Syria

I have posted about my various friends in Syria quite a bit. It has been a while since I have though so I thought I would do an update. I have not heard from my friend Sahar. She is the one who is living with her husband in a refugee camp on the border of Syria near Jordan. I assume she does not have access to the internet very often so that may be why I have not heard from her.

I also have not heard from my friend Ziyad. He and his wife and children live in Damascus. Last I heard he was still working everyday though getting to work was a bit tricky at times. I pray that he and his family are ok. I will try and contact them again.

I have heard from my friend Areen though. She is in a miserable state. It tears my heart out. Her husband has had to flee to Egypt because he was being forced to fight in the war. (I am a little fuzzy on the details of this.) So he is in Egypt but Areen is very worried because Egypt is not exactly a stable place right now and there has been talk about kicking all the Syrians out who have fled there. However, they would not be allowed back in Syria either (according to Areen). Meanwhile, Areen is living with her two sons and mother or mother-in-law not completely clear on which one. She emails me a lot. Here is what she said in her most recent one:

"Hello 
How are you doing 
I am very depressed 
And desperate of my life 
My salary became not enough to buy bread and eggs for my children and I am not able to meet the needs of my children 
I'm desperate and alone and everything around me tired 
There is no one with me but God alone 
The government granted an increase in salaries and shameful but this increase does not cover rising transport prices do not cover inflation happening to the economy 
The issue in this government decisions like coming from Space
government dream and people die What should I do 
I do not know 
I need help"

Areen has told me of hearing gunshots and bombs in Damascus and near her neighborhood. If you remember from my previous post about Areen, her apartment was hit by a bomb at one point but they were able to salvage the walls and windows and are still living there. I wish more than anything I could help her. I have tried to sign up with Islamic Relief and CARE but have heard nothing. I will work harder on this in the fall. For now, all I can do is pray for my Syrian friends and for the people of Syria. I can't imagine how difficult this must all be. I dream about Syria all the time. I think there is a reason for that but I am just not sure what it is yet....