Um Suleiman left her hometown of Hama with her ten children to seek safety in a more stable area. After travelling for three days, the family reached Al Karama camp for displaced people in Idlib, northern Syria.
For one month Um Suleiman shared tents with other families in the camp, but the lack of space or privacy was very difficult for her children. She explained,
“We can’t stand life here anymore. My children dream of returning to our home in Hama, which is where their father is still living.
Um Suleiman explained that the lack of privacy has made life particularly tough for her daughters. They would sleep in tents at night and spend the day outside. One daughter explained,
“This is the first time I’ve felt that privacy is as vital as food.”
Islamic Relief has been working inside Syria since April 2012. Um Suleiman and her family received one of the 200 tents we supplied to Syrians in Al Karama camp. We also provided them – and 199 other families – with blankets, mattresses and baby supplies. Islamic Relief has installed a sanitation network in the camp, providing camp residents with 14 showers and 14 toilets.
As our work in Syria continues, we aim to provide further support to people in Al Karama, as well as in other areas in Syria.