[one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””]class=[separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][/one_full][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]Unable to breastfeed her daughter due to mental exhaustion, Bara’a had to rely on donations to buy formula milk to feed Rouba. Unfortunately, once the donations ran out a week later, Bara’a had no choice but to feed her newborn a mixture of sugar and water. If this wasn’t hard enough, she had to take out loans to provide nappies for all of her children.[/fusion_text][separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”” sep_color=”” border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”” icon_circle_color=”” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

The scars of a Syrian refugee

Bara’a isn’t alone in experiencing trauma. Her six-year-old son, Abdurrahman, wets himself at night and is unable to speak due to the mental trauma he experienced in Syria. He was only two when the war started, but it’s left its mark on this innocent boy who was forced to escape with his family after an explosion destroyed their home in Homs.

“My home in Syria was like my heaven”. Bara’a recalls the peaceful and carefree times before the war. Her children would happily play outside, and she had no worry in the world.

Since then, the family have moved from camp to camp, being forced to survive in seven different camps in Syria before migrating to Lebanon. Bara’a is consumed by constant fear. Fear of the safety and well-being of her children. Fear of the future that lies ahead. Even when her children drink water from the camp, she cannot stop herself from worrying about the possible illnesses they may contract.

“It’s not safe at all for my children here.”

The uncertainty of their future doesn’t stop Bara’a from dreaming.

“My only dream is to send my children to school…I am so worried about their future.”

Is there any hope?

The shortage of education facilities in Syrian refugee camps combined with the trauma the children experience has meant they are unable to read or write. When Bara’a attempted to send Abdurrahman to school outside of the camp, he was often mistreated and bullied. Stories of refugee children being pushed out of buses on their way to school, resulting in injuries and in some cases death are not unheard of and haunt Bara’a. She is too scared to send her children to school.

Over 2 million Syrian mothers living in refugee and IDP camps share a similar story to Bara’a. Scared, traumatised and living with mental anxieties, these women are crippled by the horrors which have ripped apart their lives and everything they have held dearly to.

Together with your support, we can restore hope to Syrian refugee mothers this Ramadan to provide them much-needed support to help ease their difficulties. Donate a Box for Life today to provide life-saving resources to both mothers and babies to give them a healthy start in life they deserve.[/fusion_text][/one_full]