The United Nations World Food Programme is launching a campaign to give people a chance to show solidarity with the suffering of millions of Syrians displaced inside Syria and as refugees outside the country.
#IamSyrian consists of brief online portraits of ordinary Syrians sharing the contrast between their lives before the conflict began and their current lives in Syria and in exile, what they and their families have lost and their hopes for the future. In their own words, they appeal to common humanity so supporters can show their solidarity by using #IamSyrian, liking or sharing stories on social media.
The #IamSyrian initiative supports the 21 January appeal by heads of UN agencies and aid organizations calling for an end to the suffering in Syria and for specific actions so humanitarian assistances reaches all those in need. It comes as the London conference urges the world to #SupportSyrians and its message is complementary to the spirit of the conference.
My name is Nasser and I am 13 years old. I am from Aleppo but now I live in a refugee camp in Lebanon with my mother and father, brothers and sisters. I am the oldest.
Every day from sunrise until sunset, I go out to sift through the garbage where I look for metal and empty tins to sell. On a good day, I can make a dollar or two which helps my family.
When I think of my home in Aleppo, I remember how beautiful it was and I think of my school which was next door. The house was destroyed after an airstrike. It took us three days to escape from Aleppo – we had nothing left. I don’t know where any of my friends are now.
“All my hopes today are to go back to my country. I want my life back in Syria.”
Sometimes I think I might never be able to go back to school. It has been four years since I left my school in Syria and I can’t remember how to read and write. Now, I just need to help my family. My father used to work but now he is sick and he often faints and collapses.
Anything my younger brother and I can collect from the garbage can help us to buy bread and feed our younger brothers and sisters.
I want my country to return to how it was and even better. All I want is to go back to my country. I want my life back in Syria.
Yours sincerely,
Nasser
The views expressed here are not necessarily those of each of the partners of Global Citizen.