Caritas Jordan, in its far-reaching effort to help Iraqi refugees, has gathered some testimonies of how the senselessness and pain of war are borne with courage drawn from the strength of faith
"Nagham, a 41-year-old mother, came to Jordan on August 14th, 2014, with her husband Kamal, 48, and their two children: Noura who is 12 years old and Nawras who is 9.”We had no place to go," Nagham told us. "We had no other choice but to leave our home, against our will. We feel guilty not only for having abandoned our home in this way, but also because our children have had to go through this kind of experience. We are people of peace and it is incredible that this happened precisely to us." Nagham is now housed in Amman, in a large room in the Melkite monastery, in the zone of Marka, along with 40 other people who have fled from Mosul to Jordan."
This is just one of the dramatic stories that Dr. Lana Snobar, psycho-social unit coordinator of Caritas Jordan, has gathered in her work on behalf of those persecuted by ISIS, who fled from Iraq and are now living in the facilities in Jordan. The story of Nagham’s family, presented by Dr. Snobar last September 18th in her intervention at the international seminar "The Family: A resource to overcome the crisis," and there are hundreds of others from that context. Another one, for example, speaks about a family on the run.
"Also in the past month—Dr. Snobar said—we welcomed Dalia Sabbah and her husband Safwan, from Mosul, who are already the parents of two children and expect the birth of another child in the coming weeks. 'I cannot stop thinking about what will happen then; but I simply continue praying and put my faith in God,' Daila told us."
Safwan went through a terrible ordeal while leading his family to a safe place, especially when we consider that he also had to take care of his pregnant wife: "Like all families who have decided to go to Jordan, there is no other possibility but to flee. In fact, we were not prepared to stay in our country either, to live under injustice and convert to Islam against our will," said Safwan.
All the Christians in Mosul opposed to conversion, received a note telling them that they had three days to leave or they would be killed. At that point, the Christian community had no other choice. The ultimatum was set for July 19th, 2014, the last day on which they could leave their homes before being killed."
Caritas Jordan—in addition to responding to the humanitarian emergency tied to Syrian refugees—has up to now also received and housed more than 500 Iraqi Christians of the 3000 who are expected, as they flee from the atrocities committed by ISIS militants.
Yet day after day, increasing numbers of persecuted people cross the north-eastern border in search of help, and the estimated number of 3000 will certainly soon be reached. For now, Caritas is managing some structures set up in rooms and courtyards of churches and schools, offering meals, medical services and transportation to those in need.
Dr. Snobar's report
