Little Faith

Precious Iman, we failed 

you like so many 

displaced angels frozen 

between borders

learning nowhere 

is trustworthy.

Fathers, Mothers sob 

prayers into the sky...lost 

amid rumbling planes 

whose destructive echo 

reverberates through

grieving hearts. 

Your Kin find respite

under the olive trees’...

relishing peace-filled

worship of warmth

and universal Light. 

——

*Photo credit: NY times onlinehttps://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/world/middleeast/syria-idlib-refugees.html

*The child’s name Iman means “faithful” in Arabic. 

*Reflections on the death of an 18 month old Syrian refugee named Iman fleeing with her family. The baby froze to death in the family’s makeshift home/tent in a refugee camp on the Turkish border. 
Millions (yes, that many!) of civilians are fleeing their homeland after a peaceful revolution was suppressed with ongoing extreme violence, including bombing hospitals and other relief locations. Turkey is refusing to let in any more refugees, leaving these families abandoned at the border trying to survive. The winter temperatures have made this incredibly challenging (in addition to the other extreme conditions). Most of the world seems to be ignoring this humanitarian crisis. 

Please stay informed & help in the ways you can (spread the word, donate to organizations providing aid relief, etc.) See a couple links below. 

First, learn about the film “For Sama” made by a Syrian journalist/filmmaker/refugee to shed light on the suffering of refugees from a very personal, mother’s perspective. Then, follow her activist efforts on www.actionsforsama.com

Consider donating to relief organizations like Actions for Sama (fighting for justice and the ending of hospital bombings) or Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) that help families get through the bitter cold winter. Go to a link below to learn more. 

irusa.org/winter 

www.actionforsama.com

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#writingtorightwrongs #stopbombingforpeace #stopbombinghospitals 

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@my_diatribe

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@waadalkateab 

@actionforsama