Enough is Enough
Located in an opposition area of Idlib, a city north-west of Syria, lived Ahmed and his family.
His relatives also lived in a rebel area. But, the difference was that they were part of the rebel groups.
Ahmed knew loss.
His brother-in-law was killed. Ten young men from his family died. Four others he knew had been injured. All because of the horrific war.
Ahmed knew suffering.
At one point, the Syrian government physically took Ahmed’s mother, demanding payment for her release.
In 2011, Ahmed and his family left Syria and fled to Beirut, Lebanon to escape the bombings.
Ahmed, his wife and two sons (seven and four-years-old), rented a small apartment; one bedroom and a small living room.
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Their rent was $300 USD/month. However, in March, the rent increased to $500 USD; most likely to increase again as the apartments in that particular area were renting for $600 USD.
Ahmed knew anxiety.
He was unsure how he was going to manage and pay the rent. Trained as a tradesman, Ahmed had no job security and worked as a freelance laborer. The most work he could find was one week a month, resulting in approximately $30 USD per day.
With no where to turn, Ahmed was connected to a church through a local church member. As a result, they received emergency survival kits, emotional and spiritual care, and children’s programs that the two boys attended and loved.
When asked if Ahmed felt he would be able to return to Syria, he said: “I would like to go but our house is destroyed. ‘Mosques will be re-built but not houses’.”
He continued with “Even if the war stops, how do you begin from nothing?”. For now, he would like to stay in Lebanon as they have found hope; something that was lost.
Today, his hope is not in the financial security or material things but more so in the potential of building a better future for his family.
Would you like to help provide emergency survival kits to other families for $150?