GUFRAN AL-HABIS

Aleppo- Women living in rural areas of Aleppo are caught in an endless cycle of displacement due to the ongoing Syrian civil war. The women of Aleppo struggle with the difficult living conditions between fear of the unknown and efforts to protect their families. All they want is to have a free life so they are still optimistic about the future.

 “In 2012, our life changed forever,” said Qamar Abdel Ghafour, a displaced woman from a rural area of Aleppo. “We had to leave our house and became the victims of the conflict. We even had to leave our memories behind. That year was the beginning of a journey of displacement for us. I did not know whether I would survive. I still search for a place that will make me feel safe, even if only temporarily.”

 Temporary shelters

 Qamar Abdel Ghafour has been displaced multiple times since 2012, when the Syrian civil war started. “Every time I am displaced, I feel like I start from scratch,” she told NuJINHA. “This journey is a hope to find a safe place where I am able to breathe again. Although we sleep peacefully in the safe villages, we always feel anxious. Each village becomes a safe and temporary shelter for us. But we have to continue our journey of displacement due to the ongoing bombardments. Being displaced multiple times makes you feel trapped. You feel like you live in a big prison.”

She feels helpless

As the conflict continues in Syria, the displaced people face difficulties in going elsewhere. “Our living spaces have become much smaller than before and we have no opportunity to go anywhere else. We have no choice but to live in small rural areas. The bombardments and clashes continue and leave us no safe spaces. Due to the displacement, my children are deprived of education. I cannot provide a safe future and stable educational conditions to them. Whenever we are displaced to other places, I do my best to find a school for them; however, there is no room for them at schools. Our financial situation does not allow us to send our children to private schools. All these make me feel helpless.”

  ‘My only weapon is patience’

Qamar Abdel Ghafour is not only displaced women of Aleppo, who face such challenges. “I always try to be strong. Whenever my children begin to complain about the difficult living conditions, I smile and tell them that everything will be okay. My only weapon is patience. I always tell my children that even though we are in the dark, we will overcome the darkness.”