Emirati volunteers' heartache at Syria's child war victims

Plight of child refugees reduces hard-working aid workers to tears. The National accompanies volunteers as they deliver aid in tents in the middle of Jordan's desert.

Jordan has sheltered thousands of Syrian refugees, some of them young who do not know the whereabouts of their parents.

MAFRAQ, JORDAN // Little Ahmad's story drew tears from Emirati volunteers.

The eight-year-old Syrian refugee was smuggled into Jordan by his neighbours from his hometown in Homs. His parents had died, but he did not know how.

Mariam Al Darmaki, a nurse from Sharjah with the UAE Red Crescent, said it was the hardest case she had dealt with since her arrival in Mafraq three weeks ago to help in the UAE's relief work.

"He was telling us the story and he seemed fine, but we were all in tears," she said. "This eight-year-old boy has seen more in his life than what a 60-year-old man would."

The relief work at the refugee camp has proved to be emotionally draining for those volunteering with the Red Crescent and Sanid, an Emirati emergency unit team that arrived in Jordan earlier this week.

Yesterday, The National accompanied the two teams as they delivered aid to refugees in tents in the middle of the desert, and later to some of their small homes. Many were unprepared for the sight.

"We expected their injuries, but not their conditions," she said. "They live in places where animals would not."

Farima Atiq, 27, a Sanid volunteer from Dubai who took four days of annual leave from work to assist, said that when the volunteers went home, they discussed some of the tragic situations they had seen.

"One woman we found at a home had a stroke three times and was laying on the floor," she said. "She did not know about the hospital's free services."

Ms Atiq said that three or four families could be found in one room, each with at least six children. "I wish I could stay here longer," she said. "If not, I want to come back."

Seham Al Shehi, 38, from Sharjah, said she and the other women with her were ready to help, even if it meant staying in camps alongside the refugees.

"After we arrived we found out that the UAE ambassador did not want the children of his country to go through trouble and had us all in a hotel," she said. "But we were all prepared to stay in the camps."

Ms Al Shehi said she was moved by a family that had minimal access to water and could only shower once a week.

"They only have one change of clothes, they shower with their clothes on," she said. "These are all educated people with certificates.

"Their whole future has dissolved in front of them."

Ms Al Shehi was pleasantly surprised that their faith was strong enough to keep them going.

"We could not even do that," she added.