The suspected use of chemical weapons in Syria last week has taken the ongoing crisis to a new level. The conflict has already seen one million Syrian children become refugees, with the total number of refugees now close to two million. Such figures are overwhelming, and I believe it is important to remember that these millions of refugees are real people, each with their own story to share.
When I write about refugees it is often to highlight the
challenges that refugee women and children face. This in part reflects the fact
they make up 80 percent of the refugee population, and are often the most
vulnerable in conflict situations.
But in saying this, there is no less concern for the
millions of men who alone or together with their families are also forced from
their homes, often into dangerous and uncertain futures.
On my recent mission to Jordan I met and interviewed Syrian
refugees, including a number of men – fathers, husbands and sons – about their
experiences as refugees.
I found young dad, Mohamad, surrounded by young kids playing
soccer on a rocky field. He and his wife, Suzanne, and young family had arrived
in Zaatari
Refugee Camp in Jordan almost 12 months before fleeing the besieged city of
Dara in southern Syria.
At home in his village while his wife taught at the local
school he ran the local soccer competition. His team Al Majed had won several
premierships, and although he joked his glory days as a forward were behind him
he said he now really enjoyed coaching.
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Playing soccer is an
important social outlet for refugee children at Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan.
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