Help Arrives for Paletinians Trapped in the Desert
3 October 2008
It is past noon of a hot August Saturday. The road that links Damascus with Al-Tanf -on the border with Iraq- is deserted, just as the landscape surrounding it. The air is still and dry. Inside an UNRWA minivan, a bunch of teenage Palestinian refugees sing and dance.
Moussab is amongst them. His smile illuminates the vehicle. "I'm very happy" he confesses. The 22 year old has always dreamed of opening a sweet shop of his own where he would sell sugar delicacies for his clients. After undergoing a six week vocational training program at the UNRWA-run Damascus Training Center (DTC), the day of fulfilling his dream may now be closer.
Moussab attended the course along with 83 refugees from the Al-Hol and Al-Tanf camps. The group acquired useful skills in areas such as information technology, garment manufacturing, household electricity, cell-phone maintenance and welding.
"It was an unparalleled opportunity for me, not just for what I learned, which will increase the chances of improving my livelihood and eventually attaining my dream; but also, and equally important, because it allowed me to leave the camp, get away from the hassles of living there, get to visit Damascus and get to meet all these other wonderful people" explains Moussab about his experience during the intensive job-skills learning exercise, which included weekly recreational activities and excursions.
Moussab learned basic carpentry skills as part of an initiative, conceived by UNRWA and financed by the government of Italy, which aims to provide educational and recreational activities for Palestinian refugee children and youth, who in the past few years have arrived in Syria, escaping civil war in Iraq.
As the UN-licensed bus gets the green light from the Syrian authorities at the border and makes its final approach to the area where Al-Tanf camp is located, the applauses and the hurrahs inside the van reach a new high.
After a four hour drive, the van stops in the middle of the UNHCR refugee camp where a never ending collection of tents are arranged around an UNRWA school, a power generator and an ambulance-come-health clinic.
The 45˚C temperature does not detract from the excitement of the reception committee composed of the families of the newly returned.
Moussab jumps into the arms of his brothers. They hold each other; they laugh and cry at the same time. Like the rest of the camp's inhabitants, the brothers have faced hardship since they arrived in October of 2007. Their parents decided to leave Baghdad following various death threats and the kidnapping of several family friends.
"It feels good to be back" says Moussab, wiping off his tears.
His participation in the course, during which a specially trained psychologist worked with the refugees, provided a much needed breathing space. "Now I'll be able to play again with Mohammed and Hassan and start putting into practice what I learned", he adds with a big smile.
Mohammed and Hassan are Moussab's 10 and 8 year-old tent neighbors from Al Tanf. Along with 50 other Palestinian refugee children who had fled Iraq they attended a summer camp organised by UNRWA that took place a few weeks earlier on Syria's Mediterranean coast.
Under the guidance of a well-trained and spirited group of volunteers, the boys participated in all kinds of activities from swimming to painting and English language classes. This was the first stage of UNRWA's Italian-funded project aimed at the most vulnerable Palestinian refugee from Iraq, the children.
"Amazing, it was the first time I saw the sea and it was very exciting", says Mohammed referring to his memories from the summer camp.
"It was a good project presented by UNRWA that coincided with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' philosophy for humanitarian relief and the availability of funds for alleviating the grievances of the Iraqi refugees" explains Dr. Damiano Franco, in charge of cooperation at the Embassy of Italy in Damascus, about his country's support for the $72, 000 worth programmes.
Now, after an enriching summer experience Moussab, Mohammed and Hassan are back together with their families in Al-Tanf. Their future may continue to be uncertain but it definitely looks brighter.
"I'm sure that after working for a few years, immediately making use of my skills as carpenter, I'll be able to help my family, get out of the camp and start a new life", says Moussab with a look of self-confidence on his face.
"Al-Bustan" (Arabic for "the garden") he answers, when asked how he would name the sweet shop of his dreams. Maybe one not-too-far-away-day Moussab will be able to prepare delicious treats for his buddies Mohammed and Hassan there.
Text and photos by Diego Gomez-Pickering
