Fund for Charlie’s Syrian Family

Dear Friends

 

Three years have passed since I spent twelve wonderful months living in Damascus. Some of you were able to visit, others have listened to the many stories I brought back from Syria and the warm, bright and loving Damascene family whom I met by chance, and  and with whom I had the joy of living. 

 

On  my last day in the city the whole family - mother Betul, father Daoud, son Hana and vivacious teenage daughters Mari and Jessy - and I set out in the father’s truck to pick mulberries in the fields just a ten minute drive from our apartment halfway between the gates of the Old City and the Iraqi refugee camp of Jaramana. 

 

And so ended my enchanted life in that ancient city of jasmine scented peace, climbing trees in the afternoon sun among the green fields and farms of al-Ghota. 

 

This Wednesday 21st August, all life in al-Ghouta was extinguished when the Assad regime detonated a chemical explosion that killed everybody and everything. It comes as the latest in a series of car bombs, artillery bombardments, street battles and shelling that have wracked our neighbourhood and terrified the family. 

 

Miraculously, Jessy and Memo have managed to get through their school exams this term and  aspire to embark upon their studies in veterinary medicine once they finish their baccalaureate in one and two years respectively. With bombs falling, their father's delivery job long over, and unable to leave the apartment or afford decent food both their futures and their immediate safety are in danger. 

 

In an attempt to make them a little more secure, financially and physically, I am trying to raise money to help them keep healthy and to enable them to continue their educations. If the worst comes to the worst they would also have the means to flee to a camp in Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey. 

 

I have set up this fund to collect donations and would be immensly grateful if you would consider contributing any amount you can. I will transfer what is raised in installments to Damascus via Western Union - which is still functioning at present. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this message. 

 

Warmest wishes, 

 

Charlie

 

Charlotte Fryer