An Islamic Relief aid worker based in northwest Syria tells Metro his story after 11 years of the Syria crisis.
Mohammad Al Akhdar talks about his plans after graduation, being trapped under siege in Eastern Ghouta – surviving off scraps of food in the streets or eating leaves off trees, then escaping to Lebanon before returning to Syria only to have to flee bombing yet again. Now a humanitarian worker helping others who have fled the violence, he talks about the long-term impact on his generation, the future for his children and his love for his country and community.
“(Now) everyday I visit the camps in Syria. Thousands of families from all across the country have been displaced and so many are living in tents. There is not a day that goes by when people are not asking me for lifesaving assistance such as medicine, food and shelter. I see orphans, hungry children, the sick and people without work; 11 years on, the situation is only getting worse with trauma affecting everyone, including the very young…
… I don’t worry about my personal future as much as I worry about that of my children… Many people ask me what keeps me going amidst this worsening situation and for me, the answer is simple. This is my community and my family and when you see people suffering, you want to be with them and make them feel that they are not alone.”