Ageing Syrian mother struggles with health and supporting family
Fadwa Al Muarawi had a comfortable life in Syria. If not for the war, she says she would not be asking for help today.
“When the war broke out we fled to the UAE in fear of our safety,” says Ms Al Muarawi, 72. “I quickly sold my house and asked that my belongings be shipped to the UAE.”
Her belongings and family heirlooms never arrived and Ms Al Muarawi’s brother died a few months ago from the extreme cold in Syria.
“He was much younger than me and died before his time. It was one of the coldest winters in Syria and I did not have money to send to him to buy blankets to keep warm,” said Ms Al Muarawi, which is an assumed name.
Her brother was 56 when he died and was the only surviving family member apart from her two sons. Ms Al Muarawi’s husband died 15 year ago.
“We are grateful to the UAE. We are finally safe and won’t be dying of cold and hunger like many Syrians today,” she says.
But Ms Al Muarawi’s sons are unemployed and penniless and, although they are safe in the UAE, the family needs money for basic necessities and medicines for Ms Al Muarawi, who suffers from high blood pressure and cholesterol.
She also needs surgery to remove large varicose veins that cover her legs. “I can’t sleep at night because they burn so much,” she says.
Doctors have warned her that without surgery she may develop deadly blood clots. The operation will cost Dh38,000.
“I have no health insurance and my sons do not work, so they can’t pay for it,” she says. “We have lost everything we owned in Syria and are trying to get back up but it is very hard.”
Ms Al Muarawi says she is willing to do anything to raise money to support herself and her family until they find employment.
“I am a good cook. In Syria I was known for the dishes I used to do and sell to families,” she says.
One of her sons is 44 and was a successful photographer in Syria. “He got a few freelance jobs in the UAE but now even that has stopped,” Ms Al Muarawi says. “He is very talented and has a lot to offer but no one is hiring.”
Adding to their turmoil are residency fines and fees.
“My residency expired months ago and I couldn’t afford to renew it and the fines are piling up. I heard they will exempt Syrians from the fines but I cannot even afford the renewal charges, which are not that high, but it is difficult for us,” she says.
“We have so many problems but I just need help with my surgery costs and anyone to give my sons an opportunity so we can support ourselves. We are ashamed to ask for help but the situation has got so difficult for us and going back to our country is not an option.
“In Syria we have lost everything. At least in the UAE we still have a roof over our heads and are not scared that we will be killed by a rocket or gunfire.”
Hisham Al Zahrani, the manager of zakat and social services at Dar Al Ber, said: “This is an elderly woman who came to us asking for help and is in extreme pain.
“A few months ago she had knee replacement surgery and now she needs help for further surgery for her varicose veins.
“She is barely able to move from the pain and her family is going through a difficult situation. We hope readers can help her with the surgery and although it will not help resolve all her problems, it will minimise her agony.”