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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Syria's refugees: Hussan Bakar | Syria's refugees: Hussan Bakar |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| From Daraya, Damascus />Now Tabqa, Syria | |
| I'm from Daraya in Damascus. I used to work in a store for electric stuff. There was a big massacre in Daraya last year when the Syrian army stormed the district with all sorts of weapons and soldiers to clear the districts of the rebels. The rebels tried their best to stand in the face of the attack but the civilian losses and destruction of residential areas was enormous. | I'm from Daraya in Damascus. I used to work in a store for electric stuff. There was a big massacre in Daraya last year when the Syrian army stormed the district with all sorts of weapons and soldiers to clear the districts of the rebels. The rebels tried their best to stand in the face of the attack but the civilian losses and destruction of residential areas was enormous. |
| At the end rebels had to pull out for the sake of the civilians and to ease the pressure on the district. We were left alone with the Syrian army which was something very horrific. | At the end rebels had to pull out for the sake of the civilians and to ease the pressure on the district. We were left alone with the Syrian army which was something very horrific. |
| We faced massive machine-gun fire by the Syrian army which was sweeping through the district. Our house was shelled by many mortars and death was so close to us. We decided to flee through groves to Mua'adamiyat Al-Sham on foot. We were seven; my parents and my four brothers. We could not believe what were watching all the way. Bodies and people fleeing were everywhere. The destruction was huge. We stayed in Mua'adamiyat Al-Sham for few days but soon it was under a huge attack too as the army kept progressing and chasing rebels. | We faced massive machine-gun fire by the Syrian army which was sweeping through the district. Our house was shelled by many mortars and death was so close to us. We decided to flee through groves to Mua'adamiyat Al-Sham on foot. We were seven; my parents and my four brothers. We could not believe what were watching all the way. Bodies and people fleeing were everywhere. The destruction was huge. We stayed in Mua'adamiyat Al-Sham for few days but soon it was under a huge attack too as the army kept progressing and chasing rebels. |
| We asked the FSA in the district to help us with other families to go to Aleppo. The route was really long and we had to stop during the day and drive during the night. It was not like travelling within Syria but another country. After a week we got to Aleppo, but we found Aleppo was no better. All of sudden fighting would break out and you do not know what will happen to you. The problem also was a lack of money – you can't buy anything if you do not have a penny and you can't wait all the time for aid to come. Sometimes it is difficult to get FSA food supplies for a few days because of the fighting, but thankfully neighbours were dividing food among each other. | We asked the FSA in the district to help us with other families to go to Aleppo. The route was really long and we had to stop during the day and drive during the night. It was not like travelling within Syria but another country. After a week we got to Aleppo, but we found Aleppo was no better. All of sudden fighting would break out and you do not know what will happen to you. The problem also was a lack of money – you can't buy anything if you do not have a penny and you can't wait all the time for aid to come. Sometimes it is difficult to get FSA food supplies for a few days because of the fighting, but thankfully neighbours were dividing food among each other. |
| Finally, the family decided that we should go to an entirely liberated city to be settled and to know what to do after. We could not find any city except Tabqa. Again we were enrolled in a big convey for families fleeing Aleppo to Tabqa organised and secured by FSA. | Finally, the family decided that we should go to an entirely liberated city to be settled and to know what to do after. We could not find any city except Tabqa. Again we were enrolled in a big convey for families fleeing Aleppo to Tabqa organised and secured by FSA. |
| Now, we are in Tabqa. My family is surviving on food aid provided by the FSA. I have nothing to do but I always wanted to learn how to use a gun and train to be a military man. I asked the FSA to join one of their training courses to be a fighter and will be soon a member and get a monthly salary that will help me and my family. | Now, we are in Tabqa. My family is surviving on food aid provided by the FSA. I have nothing to do but I always wanted to learn how to use a gun and train to be a military man. I asked the FSA to join one of their training courses to be a fighter and will be soon a member and get a monthly salary that will help me and my family. |
| As told to Mona Mahmood | As told to Mona Mahmood |
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