Just like you, I have been exposed to the news, articles, adverts, video reels and even some documentaries highlighting the plight of those materialistically less fortunate than us. You have most likely attended a fundraiser event of some sort, be it a white-collar boxing event or a lavish evening dinner. So, to some degree, we can’t help but become desensitised to the influx of causes people encourage us to support. Receiving updates via WhatsApp, Instagram, Snap chat, Telegram, email and Facebook, whilst simultaneously using those platforms to interact with friends and family, can lead us to ‘prioritise’ what we decide to read. Already this article is too long for some, and majority of readers will not have even got to this point in the article. The reason I have chosen to use a written medium over other forms of mediums, is to allow you to reflect on what I am trying to convey. I accept I am not the best of writers, but I can only hope that the case studies below can portray some of what my fellow travellers and I felt whilst visiting the refugee camps in Lebanon.
Case study 1 – Biqaa Valley
This was to be our first visit to a refugee camp to distribute food, winter packs, visit individual tents and provide monetary support where possible. Eighteen of us were split into 2 groups of 9 and given several cases to visit.
As we entered our first tent, there was a tension in the air, an unease, a slight trepidation, a feeling that led us all to feel uncomfortable, except our trusted translator Adil. We all sat around the tent and Adil asked Umm Mohammed if we could record our encounter. She declined, but I could see it took a lot from her to decline. With her youngest child struggling in her arms and close to 13 people now entering her tent, she had to muster all her courage to answer our questions. Adil tried to allay her concerns, but she repeatedly refused. At one point, I asked Adil to stop asking her as she was growing increasingly uncomfortable. I personally have always felt a slight unease at having to record someone whilst they are at their lowest, but society today dictates we need to see suffering before we part with our hard-earned cash.
Nevertheless, Adil began to ask her about her situation, when did she arrive at the camp? – 7 years ago, how many children does she have? – she initially answered 6 but after asking their ages we realised she has in fact 7 children. It was clearly the anxiety and the stressful nature of this situation had led her to make such a simple mistake. We asked about her husband – he had left several months ago, last she had heard he was in Libya trying to secure a job so he could send money back to his family. She hadn’t heard from him for approximately 6 months. Adil then began to ask about her financial situation, her debt, how she pays for the electricity bill, the rent (yes, the rent for the tent!) and essentials. She responded meekly that she was trying her best and wherever possible she took loans from people to get by. The local grocer has allowed her to take items on tab, but he had recently asked for payment as she was going into her fourth month of no payment. She began to speak about her children’s health, her 15-year-old daughter needed spectacles and was suffering from growth issues. She had taken her to see the doctor who said she required growth hormones which would cost thousands of dollars. Her young son had stopped attending school and was trying to find work to support his family. As her story unfolded, we felt her pain, we witnessed her struggle and most of all, I believe we all felt a sense of responsibility towards her. One by one each member of our team began to cover their face, hiding their tears. At one point, someone asked Adil to ask her what the family ate yesterday, her response – one fried potato - it rendered the tent silent. I cannot find the words to describe how each one of us felt, but it was a moment that would be recounted several times later during evening reflections and conversations.
At this point the tent fostered a feeling of hopelessness. You begin to think how has this family survived for the last 7 years? Where have we all been to support them?
Our guide summarised the situation and then asked how we would like to help? Everyone began to contribute; one person said we need to clear her debt, another said we must set her up for a few months, someone else asked about schooling for her children, whilst someone mentioned the need for medical care for her daughter.
This is where your emotions move from a state of demoralisation and dejection, to positivity and support. To repay her debt, schooling for her children, rent, electricity, essentials, and some extra money that would see her through the year, we came up with a total of $3000. My initial thoughts were, is that all she needs for the entire year?!
We all contributed and put the money into one envelope and asked Adil to explain in detail what we were giving the money for and who it was from. In an instance, her face bloomed with relief; an image that will stay with me forever. From your support, we gave the less fortunate some relief. For the next year at least, she will not have to survive on one potato for the night. Her children will return to school and her 15-year-old daughter will be able to see again.
You may not have been there in the tent with us or boarded the plane to Lebanon, but your donations made this possible.
From the One Ummah team, a heartfelt thank you
