LEBANON-SYRIA: Hear Our Voices – “I never thought we would become refugees”

DAMASCUS, 30 Jul 2006 (IRIN) - Lina Ghandour (30)

“I have four children, two boys and two girls. We have become refugees in Damascus, Syria. I never thought this would happen to me and my family. We have rented a house with three rooms and there are nine families living in there. Although we are safe here, my children are miserable - the house is crowded and there is no privacy.

“We had a lucky escape from Haret Hreik in southern Beirut. We could hear planes overhead, and every time the noise got closer we would all cover our heads with bed sheets or run under the table. We had to get out. My neighbour was killed. Ten buildings in my neighbourhood were flattened, including my house. How do you think I feel?”

Amani Najar (13)

“I am from south Beirut and now a refugee in Damascus. I’m worried about my father who is still in Lebanon. He stayed behind because my uncle does not have enough money to come.

“I cry at night when I remember what happened. They bombed our neighbourhood. I was waiting for my father to come home from work. I thought he would not come home, and now I don’t know when I will see him.”

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