* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
The French archeologist, Andre Parrot, who specialized in the ancient Near East once said: “Each civilized person in the world should admit that he has two home countries: the one he was born in, and Syria”. Parrot was asserting the importance of Syria as one of the world’s oldest civilizations. For him, it was the mother of civilizations and the cradle of monotheistic religions.
Unfortunately, Syria’s past glory and cultural richness, built up over thousands of years, have become a prey to violence, hate and despair. The lovely Syria, that used to be fondly called “the mother of the poor”, because of the strong social solidarity that existed among communities before the conflict, has no more capacity to protect either the rich or the poor. Hatred has replaced love. The destruction of the country and of people’s lives has been merciless. Few could have imagined what is happening today: millions of people fleeing their homes seeking safety, both inside the country and others leaving for neighbouring countries.
I was one of those millions who had no choice but to flee, leaving behind relatives, friends, properties and a beautiful past. I was away for three years thinking that I had succeeded in creating a new life. But the pain I had at leaving my homeland never left me.
While I still wasn’t sure it was completely safe to make a visit back home, I became more determined that I had to go back. I did not know what to expect. How would I react to see what I knew as my lovely Damascus after years of war? Would I be confronted with more news about the deaths of relatives, friends and acquaintances?
Read Amal's full story on ECHO's website.
The European Union has announced today additional €64 million to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by the Syria crisis. Read more on ECHO's website.
