By Emb Hashmi
Tariq Jahan and his campanion Atif have taken a proud but emotional journey to the war torn forgotten land of Syria representing the charity Human Appeal.
They spoke to the Asian World about their journey and the impact of their personal experience, and how they will definitely go back.
Atif Iqbal told us that Tariq Jahan was approached by Human Appeal international on their new campaign to Syria and be the face of the their big campaign because of Tariqs reputation, his stance and recognition in helping people and the fact that he is a well-known face in the Muslim community. The trip was for six days. Atif said “this was not about going into a refugee camp in Turkey or Jordan this was about actually going into Syria.”
To come and volunteer and to deliver flour inside Syria.
Tariq Jahan told the Asian World “Human Appeal international said because of my strength and courage they really wanted to take me out to Syria.” He went on to say “When I got there and saw the devastated and I could not comprehend what I was seeing and I was shocked to see what little they really had. I saw what was a hospital in what was a service station.
Tariq was so shocked by what he saw, he said “it was hard to see children with legs and arms missing, and the wounded being brought in.” Tariq experience of wounded children bought back memories of losing his own son he said “no matter how strong a person think they are when they see the sight of dying children it can bring tears to your eyes, it reminded me of my son who I lost anymore Haroon. It did break our hearts.” However as Tariq explained there were more positive moments to the trip like one moment when they went into a school and saw young children, happy he said “I had a stereotype in my head of them all being dark Arab kids, but these children were so beautiful with their blue eyes and blond hair. One incident that sticks with me is one of woman walking around in the school she was picking up things with her two fingers I could not see what she was picking up, so when she left I became very curious I wanted to know what she was picking up. Its only when I went back to the refugee camp, I saw other people with these same black bags and I found that they were collecting crumps of bread. They then soak the bread and other food crumps they collected and leave it overnight and in the morning they boil and it becomes a paste and they feed their kids this.” This was something that sent shockwaves through Tariq and Atif.
He went on and saw another woman in the refugee camp who was boiling two eggs and with the eggs she was cooking grass, Tariq said this particular woman had four kids to feed but she still came over and offered me one of the eggs, this situation brought tears to Tariqs eye, the sheer generosity of someone who has nothing was incomprehensible.
“I would not call Syria hell”
Atif found both positives and negatives during the visit he said “when you see a regime that so brutally causing hardship on its people but by humanity you will see the best of people, we saw the best in the most unexpected places, in Syria you will see courage and bravery in the smallest of people, this really inspires you and gives you hope.”
Tariq spoke to a young girl at school through his interpreter and the response from the little girl is something he will never forget, he told us “This sweet little girl had lost everything but she said I will pray that god gives you son a place in paradise, and she said this with hope on her face.”
The trip left a lasting impression of both Tariq and Atif and both are eager to go back and do all they can to help the destitute people they saw.
