A displaced woman sought security to protect her two children

SALWA ABDEL RAHMAN-SHILAN OHAMD/MANBJ

Thousands of displaced persons who fled the areas controlled by the Euphrates Shield mercenaries backed by the Turkish occupation like al-Bab, Azaz, Afrin and Jarablus became homeless. Most of these areas were destroyed by the bombing of Turkish warplanes and the looting and robbery of their property by mercenaries.

The family of Fatima Al-Ahmad, 37, who has chosen the city of Manbij for safety, does not differ from her family. She protects her two children, who are 9 and 10 years old, and relies on herself to raise her children and provide them with a living.

However, the severe poverty did not help Fatima to provide a suitable life for her and her two children. Ending up in a house with a roof imminent to collapse over her head, nothing to sit on or cover the ground with but a small mat.

Fatima fled with her family two years ago on foot from the city of al-Bab to the safe areas and free of the presence of the mercenaries of the Euphrates Shield, seeking safety, and a year after their departure and staying in the city of Manbij, due to poor living conditions, her husband did not bear the burden of responsibility and would not raise the children and he returned to al-Bab and left Fatima and her two children suffering from poverty without taking care of them.

Poverty has increased her suffering

Poverty dominates Fatima's life. She has no home furniture, kitchen utensils to prepare food for her two children, and even a blanket to protect them from the harsh winter cold. She spent the bitter winter living on a mat in the room that is about to be worn-out and a small firewood fireplace.

Fatima hopes to live in a healthy room with living necessities, where she will raise her children, but extreme poverty and displacement prevent her from that, as well as humanitarian and relief organizations’ negligence.

"I used to work in olive picking in the past few months in the village to support my children and to provide their most basic daily necessities, but now I live on the donations they make to my parents," says Fatima al-Ahmad.

“Despite the harsh conditions and the extreme desolation, I will not leave the city of Manbij. I would stay with my children in this old house without fear or anxiety, here I am safe at least.”

J.O

ANHA