June 21, 2015
Jordan
Jordan is currently hosting the 1.4 million Syrians, 500,000 Iraqis, 500,000 Palestinians and 35,000 displaced residents of Yemen. Caritas Jordan provides them with food, shelter, medical care, advice, training and other means of assistance. The number of people in need is staggering, but for each refugee who receives aid, a small victory is made.
Fight for life
Jassam had a good life in the Iraqi city of Mosul. He joined the family business after studying economics and accounting at university. He regularly travelled to China, Turkey and Dubai. He was successful. He was married and had children.
In June 2014, the extremists of the "Islamic state" (Daesh) took control of Mosul. They committed many horrors and forced thousands of Christians and other religious minorities to flee or convert to Islam. To protect his family, Jassam (a Christian), sent his family to Kurdistan. But he himself returned to Mosul to check on the home and on the business. On July 9, he heard a knock on the door. They told him that his door was painted letter N '. Meaning Nazareth = Christian. It meant that the house now belonged to Daesh.
Jassam fled. He left everything in Mosul. He went first to Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan and then to Jordan. Since August 2014 he has lived in the church of saint Charbel, which is supported by Caritas Jordan. Jassam’s family has grown - his wife gave birth to a child. His dream is to live with his father, who now lives in the US. He refuses to give up hope.
Recently Jassam’s four-year old daughter Tanya became ill with a severe fever. At first the family thought it was just a common childhood illness, but it turned out to be a case of lymphoblastic leukaemia. Since finding out, the family has been struck with a deep sadness. The little girl was once very lively and talkative, but is apathetic and does not speak. In order to allow their parents the time to care for their sick child, the other children have been sent to live with a relative.
Tania needs urgent care, in order to stop the spreading of the disease to her spine. Jassam now thinks only about healing his daughter. He is doing everything possible to find support and wants to send her for treatment in the United States. Treatment costs are estimated at 37,000 euros (approximately 1,036,000 CZK) or more. If she does not receive treatment soon, Tanya life will be in danger.
To help Tania, you can contacted Caritas Jordan (link to English site) or arrange assistance through Caritas Czech Republic.
We were the happiest family in the world
Payman is a forty-year old widow who fled to Jordan last October, after the militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) occupied the Iraqi Mosul. She has four children: Ayoob (13 years), Sarah (10 years) and twins Afram and Aram (7 years). "We were the happiest family in the world until our city was taken by ISIS and my husband died in the accident."
The loss of her husband was even worse when Payman was uprooted from her home country and forced to leave home. The double trauma made Payman feel sad, helplessness and she no longer had an interest in daily activities.
"I'm afraid to be home after midnight, because this commercial building is empty," said Payman. She lives in Hashimi - in the commercial area of Amman in a small room in a shopping centre.
A psychologist from Caritas has diagnosed Payman with depression and suggested she use the counselling services afforded by Caritas. The terrain charity team pointed out that she needs a home where she will feel safe and which is suitable for children.
Payman has since obtained basic foods, financial contributions and moved into a new rented house. Now she waits for a trip to another country, but she is in a better condition because she has been provided everything needed to live a normal life.
