Chat with a Syrian Friend

I just finished chatting on Facebook with one of my Syrian friends. Her name is Areen. Areen lives in Damascus currently with her husband and two boys. She said that her house was bombed and partially destroyed. It sounds like they were able to salvage some of it by fixing windows and some walls but there is no heating or fuel for cooking. Winter is upon them and it is cold. I know because when I was there in the winter, I was always cold. She does have water. I assume she has a few hours of electricity a day since she said they bought a new t.v. when the old one was destroyed. I can't imagine how frightening it must be to live somewhere with your family knowing your house could be bombed at anytime. She wanted to move elsewhere but it is very expensive to live in the "safe zones." However, she also said that there really are no safe zones anymore in Damascus or anywhere for that matter. She also said that leaving the country is virtually impossible. She would have to go to Lebanon because all the embassies have closed. She can get food from the supermarket but a limited variety of items. She also made a frightening statement saying that there were piles of humans, stray dogs and cats everywhere in various places throughout the city. 

Areen normally works at a bank. She said that she does not work very much now but seemed to go in once in a while. I asked her what I could do. I asked if she needed anything. I asked if the mail system worked. She said that she thought it did but you never know what would happen from day to day. If I understood her right, she did not see any good alternative to Bashar al-Asad though I get the impression that she is not a loyalist to him she just does not see any good opposition leaders to replace him. I asked if she had heard of Mouaz al-Khatib, a former imam from the famous Umayyad mosque in Damascus, who was just voted in as president of the opposition in Doha. She had not heard. She stated over and over that Syria is a miserable place. She then asked about my children. How are they? How could I tell her that they are happily going to school, swimming lessons, gymnastics, have plenty to eat and nice warm beds to sleep in without fear. Their only worries are whether they will like what they are having for school lunch each day. My heart breaks for Syria right now. I wish there was something I could do...