Soumaya Al Azem,
Kuwait is blessed with great people who care
a philanthropist and activist based in Kuwait, is seen in a makeshift camp. Soumaya has been relentless in her pursuit of seeking relief for the Syrian refugees especially children.
It is not an exaggeration when Filippo Grandi, High Commissioner, UNHCR says, Syria is “the biggest humanitarian and refugee crisis of our time, a continuing cause of suffering for millions which should be garnering a groundswell of support around the world.” According to the UNHCR, over 5 million people have fled Syria since 2011 seeking refuge in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and beyond. Today, there are 6.3 million internally displaced Syrians and 4.53 million refugees in hard to reach and besieged areas with women and children making up three-fourth of the refugee population. And these are just the official figures. There may be thousands of unregistered victims fleeing bombs and bullets, and the atrocities caused by politics and Man’s insatiable greed for power in all its connotations. Over 2.9 million registered Syrians are hosted by Turkey, with 260,000 accommodated in government-run refugee camps. But the situation is different in Lebanon, where there are no formal refugee camps, and as a result more than a million registered Syrians are scattered throughout more than 2,100 urban and rural communities, sharing shelter with other refugees in overcrowded conditions. For these homeless souls, most of them living below the poverty line and with no prospects of picking up the threads of their old lives anytime soon, the efforts of UNHCR, NGOs, foreign governments, and activists is their only slim chance of survival.
Soumaya Al Azem, a philanthropist, and an activist based in Kuwait for the last thirtyfive years is actively involved in lending a much-needed hand of help wherever needed. Soumaya has been relentless in her pursuit for seeking relief for the Syrian refugees especially children. She has spared no efforts to create awareness about the refugee crisis and to garner material support through various actions and events. A German-Syrian, she co-founded Jasmine-Hilfe e.V, an NGO with other like-minded compatriots to secure life-saving assistance for the refugees. Apart from this Soumaya is also a member of Kuwait’s Women’s Social and Cultural Society. She is also a board member of Chaine des Rotisseurs and President of German-speaking Ladies of Kuwait (GLOK).
With the Syrian war heading into its seventh year, with no signs of an end to the fighting in sight, and with a bitter and tough winter looming ahead, the importance of lifesaving efforts of people like Soumaya cannot be overstated. Arab Times catches up with activist-philanthropist Soumaya Al Azem and her work with the Syrian refugees.
Arab Times: Did you spend any time in Syria in the past? How strong is your association with the country?
Soumaya: Yes, I lived in Syria for six years between ages 12-18. Being multicultural, I saw myself as a world citizen and a humanitarian. Since I was active for many years in humanitarian causes all over the world and also here in Kuwait, responding to the Syrian catastrophe came quite naturally to me. And of course, the cause is dear to my heart because of my roots.
AT: How and when did you get involved in the refugee program?
Soumaya: Charitable work has been a part of my life for years, so even before the crisis I helped and provided support wherever needed, so for me getting involved in the refugee program was just a transition to ever growing needs.
AT: You travel to and fro between Kuwait and Lebanon very often. Which camps do you visit and what have you seen?
Soumaya: My work is concentrated in the
Lebanon camps in the Beqaa Valley, with visits to Jordan and Turkey. It is very difficult to describe what you see in words. The situation is overwhelming. It is as if parallel worlds exist. The world of the refugees is a new world. It is a reality which they have to accept, where living conditions are very harsh with simple things like water, food, shelter becoming less and less available. Basic needs like health and hygiene, the need to stay warm in winter and not to freeze to death, is a challenge every year. You see humans with sadness in their eyes, as if they are forgotten by the world. You see innocent children who need hope and a future, old people who need hospitals and care, women who have lost their providers. With all the worries and misery, I feel motivated to help even more.
AT: How accommodating are the local population where the refugees have their camps?
Soumaya: The local communities are divided, between those who are really helpful and accommodating and those who, after this long time understandably feel the burden of the huge numbers entering their countries. The municipalities are having difficulties with the extra services.
AT: Has there been any improvement in the situation or has it worsened?
Soumaya: The situations in Jordan and Turkey have improved compared to what it used to be in the beginning. The situation in Lebanon is different because there are no official camps offered by authorities, and refugees have to depend on themselves. So we still have to work on life maintaining measures. We have been running a small clinic in one of the camps for three years, providing medical care and medication for free, and a small bakery. We also offer psychological workshops to children and educators. At present we are trying to rebuild a livelihood centre. We lost the first one to a fire that consumed most of the camp.
AT: Which segment of the population is the worst affected?
Soumaya: With segment, do you mean segments in a society like children and women? Yes, the women and the children are the ones most vulnerable and most affected, especially the women who have lost their provider, who could be their husband or their sons. Then there are the children who are in huge numbers without education. Many of them already have to work in the fields, shops, even in the streets, any place to ensure a small periodic income.
AT: As a volunteer, which areas do you target the most? Where do they need help the most?
Soumaya: My target is to help as much as possible, in nearly every sector. Everything is of equal importance. I am trying to work simultaneously on providing food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, and creating jobs. I even try to help out in personal matters if it’s within my means.
AT: How painful is it for you — both when you are there and when you come back?
Soumaya: The trips are quite emotionally draining. You go through a rollercoaster of feelings, sadness, agony. Hundreds of questions run through your mind, but you also feel gratitude for what you have and can give. When you are there, you are in action, but when you return you churn the experience, and it is then that you go through a more conscious process and reach insights.
AT: How strong does a person have to be to do the kind of work you are doing? Are there others like you from Kuwait?
Soumaya: To do this kind of work I would say one rather needs faith than strength, a belief in humanity, the ability to feel empathy, motivation to act, and the courage to look at that which is without hope.
Kuwait is blessed with great people who care and help; there are many initiatives that support and do huge efforts to make a difference. AT: Has the experience changed you?
Soumaya: Yes, it has shown me what life is really about, and it set a higher goal, leading me on a brighter path.
AT: Are you hopeful about the future or is it all bleak?
Soumaya: Hope is always there, even while going through ups-and-downs. I believe that we shall see the light.
AT: Could you share some experiences with our readers?
Soumaya: One experience that is dear to my heart is a boy with legs that were severely burnt. He was without treatment for two months, because they couldn’t afford a hospital. He weighed merely 40 kilos and was 12 years old. When I got news of him, I pledged not to leave before finding a way to help him. Through a contact in Britain, I managed to find a clinic in Lebanon which accepted to treat him. A month later a visiting doctor carried out his first surgical procedure, and after a while, another visiting doctor also operated on him. But when this doctor saw that his healing process would take a long time, she found ways to take him to Britain with his whole family. When I later received his photo in school uniform showing he was learning to walk again, it touched my heart deeply.
The trips are quite emotionally draining. You go through a rollercoaster of feelings, sadness, agony, hundreds of questions run through your mind, but you also feel gratitude for what you have and can give.