Back to reality

Front from left to right: Geert, Johara and Olga. Back from left to right: Maha, Paul and Salwa.

4 December 2015

Just hours after the UK Government authorised air strikes, British Tornado jets yesterday carried out their first air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria.

Although the UK is not deploying British troops on the ground at this time, the heightened fear of the Syrian aid workers from World Vision is felt by all of us.  They are mostly occupied with the safety of their family, friends and colleagues back in Syria.

The staff in Syria has now been advised to cease programs and lie low for their own safety. Some of them have chosen to leave the area and move their families to safety. The bombings hamper aid delivery to desperately needy war victims.

A limited number of Syrian World Vision staff have permits to cross the border between Turkey and Syria. They use their multiple entry permits to bring basic food and non-food items to colleagues in Syria who do not have such a permit.  The Turkish-Syrian border crossing has 6 check points, and passing those, is in itself an incredible challenge. In crossing the border staff sometimes fear for their own lives. Still they proceed as their humanitarian colleagues left behind, are depending on them and the supplies they bring. I feel nothing but admiration for those brave men who risk their lives for the sake of others.

Yesterday the intervention team and I briefed management on the first results of our work here. Additionally management was trained in two crisis intervention planning tools, which hopefully do not need to be put in practice. In the afternoon I did three individual interventions.

This morning we took time to reflect on the last two weeks. Our time is up. We all agreed that leaving tomorrow to travel back home, is going to be difficult. For me it has been a very special experience. It feels good to have been able to help others in addressing their hurts. As this mission has come to an end, I feel satisfied about the results of the work we have done here. I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given to reflect on my own blessings and I deeply appreciate all I have in my life.

After individual sessions with two Syrian aid workers this afternoon, I can’t help wondering what it would be like crossing the Turkish-Syrian border without knowing whether I would return or not. And as winter is coming, my thoughts will be with the millions of Syrians who live in the tented camps. With little or no humanitarian aid, how will they keep warm during the upcoming winter?

Tomorrow Johara (our team leader) and I will start our return journey to the Netherlands. We will stay over  for a day in Istanbul to allow ourselves some decompression time before returning to our daily lives back home.

Our journey tomorrow begins on International Volunteer Day. Many of the aid workers in the Syrian crisis are volunteers and their true humility mostly goes unnoticed. Therefore tonight I salute all those whose actions count for the people affected by the Syrian War.

With combined effort we can make a difference in the world.