A Family’s Struggle Living Near Cemeteries During the Truce

Key Concepts

• Displacement & Shelter: Forced relocation and living in a cemetery due to conflict.
• Psychological Impact on Children: The fear and trauma experienced by children living in a cemetery environment.
• Basic Needs Deprivation: Lack of adequate shelter, sanitation (toilets), and safety.
• Ongoing Conflict: Despite a truce, continued shelling and danger.
• Economic Hardship: Loss of livelihood and inability to provide for children.

Living Conditions in the Cemetery

The speaker describes a dire living situation, having been displaced and forced to reside within a cemetery ("مقبره") – specifically, a large cemetery located inside the “yellow line” (الخط الاصفر), a demarcation zone. Multiple attempts to relocate were unsuccessful, and all belongings were left behind. The family, including the speaker, her husband, her sister, and her children, are currently living in a single, cramped tent ("خيمه"). The speaker emphasizes the difficulty of finding alternative nearby shelter, with a friend of her husband suggesting the cemetery as the only option.

The Impact on Children

A significant portion of the narrative focuses on the psychological impact of this environment on the speaker’s children. They are deeply frightened ("بخافوا") by the cemetery setting, particularly by the presence of funerals and the sight of bodies being buried ("بيجي مثلا واحد شهيد او بيجي واحد بده يجي يدفنوه"). This fear prevents them from playing or engaging in normal childhood activities. The speaker recounts how her children express their fear with questions like, "What is this, Mama?" ("شو يعني يا ماما هذا وايش هذا"). Despite the truce ("هدنه"), the children are constantly afraid, even to go to the bathroom ("خايفه خايفه"). The speaker feels deeply responsible for providing her children with a safe and appropriate environment for play and development.

Deprivation of Basic Necessities

The speaker details the severe lack of basic necessities. The tent leaks ("الميه بتفوت علي") and lacks proper sanitation. There are no toilets within the cemetery ("ما فيش حمامات جوا المقابر"), forcing the family to use facilities at nearby schools ("بنروح على المدارس"). Even accessing these school facilities is difficult. The speaker highlights the absurdity of expecting someone to have a toilet within a cemetery ("واحد ما بينفعش يكون له حمام جوا المقابر"). She mentions a phrase "يا ورده شيكا شيكا هب للصالحات سلاح مش عا" which seems to be a lament or a prayer for good fortune amidst the hardship, possibly referencing the dangerous environment.

Ongoing Danger & Economic Hardship

Despite the declared truce, shelling continues ("ليل ونهار الضرب شغال"). The speaker recounts a recent incident where her daughter was afraid to go to the bathroom in the morning due to the ongoing threat. The family has lost their livelihood ("فيش الواحد معه دخل ولا معه شي") and is unable to provide for their children. The speaker specifically mentions the lack of resources to support her children’s needs ("انه يصرف على اولاده"). She refers to "الجزيره لا شيرهاد" which could be a location or a reference to a lost opportunity or resource.

Plea for Assistance

The speaker concludes with a direct plea for security, safety, and a normal life ("بامن وامان وحياه زي الناس"). She emphasizes the need for a suitable tent and a safe place for her children to play. She expresses a sense of desperation, feeling that their lives are over and they have nowhere else to turn.

Logical Connections

The narrative progresses logically from describing the initial displacement and the forced relocation to the cemetery, to detailing the specific hardships faced by the family, and culminating in a desperate plea for help. The speaker consistently connects the physical environment (the cemetery) to the psychological and emotional well-being of her children, highlighting the devastating impact of the situation. The discussion of basic needs deprivation reinforces the overall sense of vulnerability and desperation.

Notable Quote

“اقسم بالله انه اليوم اجت بدي اروح يعني على الحمام الصبح ما قالوا لي ماما خايفه خايفه” – “I swear to God, today I went to go to the bathroom in the morning and my daughter told me, ‘Mama, I’m scared, I’m scared.’” This quote powerfully illustrates the constant fear and trauma experienced by the children.