Why was it necessary to evacuate the children in August 2012? At that time, what were some of the biggest risks to the children’s safety?
The kids started to feel unsafe, especially when the sound of the explosions became very loud. We left the village a month before armed groups entered it. Many people were killed after we left the town.
What has been the most diffi cult thing for you to deal with, as a mother, during the war?
It has been challenging to deal with children who have come to the Village after the war began. These children experience trauma because of the war. For example, one of my children was trapped under a newly destroyed building before he was rescued. I don’t know how long he was trapped until they got him out. When he joined us at the SOS Village, he was unable to talk or to laugh. He was so sad and crying all the time. It took him a long time to speak with us.
What do your children need most that you are unable to provide for them because of the war?
Because the security situation is so bad, I can’t raise them in a safe environment as I did with my older kids. I used to take my kids on picnics, and we attended many parties and activities. But we can’t do this regularly anymore. We can only go to specifi c areas.
Discuss
1. Share your understanding of the word ‘war’. 2. What do you know about wars that have taken place? 3. What do you know about the conflict in Syria?
Understand
In the case of each of the following, write the letter corresponding to the correct answer in your copy.
1. When did Luma start raising orphaned children? (a) 2011 (b) 1999 (c) 2012
2. When were the children evacuated? (a) April 2012 (b) August 2012 (c) October 2012
3. Where did the children go when they were evacuated? (a) Aleppo (b) Damascus (c) Daraa
