A family’s tale of being displaced by conflict in Syria

World Today

A family's tale of being displaced by conflict in Syria

Millions of people have lost their homes in Syria’s fighting. But the war is more than just numbers. CCTV’s Xu Dezhi brings us one family’s story from Homs.

Um Alaa and her husband, Abo, lived in the Syrian village of Al-zara with two of their four children. In May, Al-Nusra Front and other rebel groups launched an attack; one third of the villagers were murdered, many others abducted. Survivors escaped to Homs.

“We were sleeping at four, gun shots suddenly started. They were attacking, so we got up. We moved to the next room because the gun shots came from the west,” said Um .

Um’s husband Abo was a soldier. He grabbed his gun to help his neighbors. He was killed defending his village. His wife and children escaped.

“When my husband left, I stayed with my son and his sister. When we tried to leave, my children were injured. My son could not walk any more. I took him back to the house and put a bandage on his legs and then we left.”

She misses Abo and knows he will never return. Um misses her home and the shelter it provided for her family.

“I wish the army could retake the village, and we could return even if our houses are destroyed. We still have our farm there. We have planted potatoes and other vegetables. We could resume our lives.”said Um Alaa.