A Camp for the Displaced

As I mentioned before, my mother's school (near Downtown Beirut) has been turned into a camp for the displaced. There are around a thousand there, and almost half of them are children. The following are things that were told to me by my mother, N.C.

It's been hard to get enough food for them. So many of the schools around us have as many people as well, as does Sanayeh garden. It's a good thing we don't need blankets yet, but if there is ever a need, then we don't have nearly enough. Two days ago a 4 year old was brought here. He reminded me of you; he had those mini-dimples. His mother was killed in one of the raids, and his father said they haven't eaten in some time. There is this other child, Fadi, who was here since the beginning, and hasn't spoken since he arrived; his parents say his village was destroyed. Yesterday, he finally said something - water - which we still have enough of, but who knows when that will finish.

The first few days, everyone was silent. Everyone was waiting for things to end. Almost all who first came had already lost somebody - a brother, mother, father, sister, teta (grandmother) - and no one shared their pain. But as more came, there were more things to do, and some of the parents volunteered their help. They took care of the children, helped with the food. The older children began to devise ways to entertain the younger ones, to help them ignore the brutal past few days, and to help them realize their own strengths. There were a few young children who took up the responsibility of helping the grandparents, bringing them food, and even talking to them and asking them questions. There are a set of brothers who have been going around telling jokes, and almost everyone who hears them laughs. I don't know if we laugh because they are really funny, or if they just allow us to forget, but I don't care. I would rather laugh, and not cry.

A child was born there two days ago. Some of us decided to cook a small cake, so I got ingredients from home. The parents were newly wed; they actually got married almost a year ago, and their anniversary will be in two weeks. Everyone here has now adopted this child as their own. They are slowly becoming a large family.

That is something Israel can never destroy.

posted by Lazarus, 8:19 AM