Resilience
There is another side of war that most people see even less. After spending a day in the war zone of Mosul, I headed out to Hasan Shami. Situated about halfway between Erbil and Mosul, there are several large camps that fall under the Hasan Shami umbrella. Camp number two, one of the largest, was the one I visited that day.
Immediately, I was shocked at how sprawling it was. Tents seemed to stretch on for miles, with the occasional water tank and medical facility interrupting them. I was with a mutual friend from Erbil who took me to the camp manager to explain why I wanted to go into the camp. After a few basic questions, I was allowed in. Luckily, my friend was also able to translate for me.
We were not the only arrivals that day. Even though ISIS only holds a small portion of Mosul, there are still hundreds of new civilians arriving at IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps. The front of the camp was packed with new arrivals, each family being given large foam pads, pillows, and other necessities for their new lives. Food and water seemed to run short, as another crowd of people was lined up where the food distribution took place. Small children struggled to help their parents carry food and water back to their tents but still managed to smile when I looked their way.
I have never seen more resilience in my entire life. Their homes were bombed and many of their family members have been killed or severely wounded, yet they continue to live and hope for a better future. Many parents saw that I had a camera, and beckoned me to take a photo of either them or their kids. As soon as I knelt down to get a closer shot of one young boy, 20 more children surrounded me asking to take their photos. They were smiling, laughing, and were amazed when I showed them their photographs. It's these moments that really put things in perspective.
I was able to talk to a few of them about their dreams. Some just wanted to go home, some wanted to see their families again, but some did not even understand the concept of a dream. It is heartbreaking to see that many of these children have no formal education, and are merely just surviving. Still, they put on a brave face or a smile, and continue to go about their day.
It is days like this that may turn your world upside down, or make you realize something in your own life. We truly have nothing to complain about. No matter how bad we think we have it, our daily problems don't even compare. A lesson learned, from people and a place usually ignored and forgotten.