By Syed Azwan Syed Ali
File photo of Syrian opposition fighters riding a tank as they head to the front lines in the countryside of Hama Province. Opposition fighters launched new counter-attacks against the government’s forces to retrieve what they have lost in the town. Photo: Mustafa Dahnon/dpa
KILIS, Turkey, May 27 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Bahirah Atuk, an 85-year-old woman hailing from Aleppo in Syria, lost four members of her family in the Syrian Civil War five years ago.
Despite her frail constitution – paralysed on one side of her body and being unable to enunciate her words clearly – she valiantly performs her noon prayer, as witnessed by the volunteers of Muslim Volunteer Malaysia (MVM) and Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia.
The volunteers arrived in Turkey on Friday on a week-long mission to help the Syrian refugees during Ramadan, and paid Bahirah a visit at her home on the edge of Kilis, not far from the Syria-Turkey border.
Bahirah lives with her daughter, Muna Akam, 50. Tearfully, Muna related to the volunteers – through a translator – that Bahirah lost her husband, her son and two sons-in-law in the conflict.
The Syrian Civil War, which began in March 2011, has claimed over 400,000 lives and turned over 11 million of its citizens into refugees.
“Her husband and her son were taken away from her, right in front of her very eyes…” said the translator and Syrian refugee, Ola, who is attached to an NGO called the Bonyan Organisation.
Chief Executive Officer of GPM Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin and President of MVM Muhammad Jantan were moved by Bahirah’s plight.
“They (Bahirah’s family) have no one to lead the family and no income. This is why we must help them,” said Muhammad.
Bahirah’s family were among the 1,000 recipients of a month-long food aid contributed by generous Malaysians through the Ramadan mission campaign managed by MVM and GPM, and supported by Malaysia Life Line for Syria.
The Syrian Civil War, which began in March 2011, has claimed over 400,000 lives and turned over 11 million of its citizens into refugees.
–NNN-BERNAMA
