Heartbreaking remarks made by children during focus group discussions conducted at Hammam Al Alil camp, Iraq

Kids aged 10 to 15 have left with scattered but scary images of bloodshed which may haunt them throughout their lives. This is what they tell the world

I lost my aunt

Girl aged 10-12 “My aunt was baking and she was attacked suddenly and killed. I am scared, shocked and very sad because I loved her.”

Daesh killers

Girl aged 10-12 “Daesh killed women that were taken to an Isis car and they couldn’t escape. Then they threw their bodies into the garbage.”

Total destruction

Girl aged 13-15 “I have a bad dream that everything in Mosul is destroyed, the houses, the schools, the people.”

No food for my sister

Girl aged 13-15 “I was scared when we didn’t have enough food to feed my baby sister.”

Camp not safe

Girl aged 13-15 “Since I came to the camp I don’t feel safe, because I don’t believe we are here. And I don’t think we are far from Isis.”

Cries, blood everywhere

Girl aged 13-15 “Everything was destroyed, and there were dead bodies around, and people were crying and bleeding.”

entire family killed

Boy aged 10-12 “Daesh climbed the wall of my house and went to my grandparents room to take them and they killed many of my family.”

Cousin at gunpoint

Boy aged 10-12 “My cousin was offered a cigarette by Isis and when he accepted they gave it to him and then killed him by gun-shot on the back.”

Rocket hits uncle

Boy aged 10-12 “My uncle was digging on the ground and then a plane went over him and dropped a rocket on him.”

Scared of monsters

Boy aged 13-15 “I am shocked when I see something scary like a monster in front of me, or dead bodies in the street.”

escaped but live in fear’

Boy aged 13-15 “I was scared when we escaped from Isis because they want to kill us by shooting us.”

Mines will explode

Boy aged 13-15 “I’m afraid that mines can explode on us.”

Isis will come here

Boy aged 10-12 “Isis is taking people from the military and the police – and they will come here next.”

Bloody image:

Girl aged 10-12 “I dream of a woman with blood all over her face.”