Yusuf, a very thin boy of five, stares with his big brown eyes at the young woman who had arrived at the camp a few hours earlier. He sits motionless on the cold, ice-covered floor. He is wearing sandals without socks and a pair of torn pants that are too short for the relentlessly cold temperatures of the season. Little Yusuf is pale and his face is expressionless. His teeth chatter and he is shivering from the cold.
Orphan Yusuf was desperate for love
When the woman Jasmine gently touches his shoulder, he hesitantly moves closer and puts his little head next to her. Does he remember her? He seems desperate for attention, love and human contact. He looks up at her shyly, but then extends his thin arms, ready for a hug.
Yusuf did not speak
Jasmine pulls him close and wraps her arms around the silent child. She looks around and asks: "Where is his mother?" "Yusuf is one of our orphans," replies Miriam, a woman who has lived in the camp for several months. "We only know his name, because he hasn't said anything since he came here." Shocked and with tears in her eyes, the newly arrived refugee strokes the little boy's dark, curly hair. She doesn't want to believe or accept that what she has just heard could be true.
He meets his former neighbor
As she wraps her arms around this lonely little boy, tears stream down her cheeks. She whispers in his ear: "My little baby... Do you remember me? My name is Jasmine and I was your neighbor in Mosul. I went to Dohuk before all these terrible things happened."
Islamic State attacked Yusuf's mother and father
Image right: The war has wreaked havoc in Syria
There was no one to listen and no one to comfort me when I cried. Why did mom leave and why didn't dad help her? And why didn't anyone take me back after they brought me here? I don't like being here. I want to be at home with my family. I miss my mom and dad! Where are my sisters? Have you seen them?"
Islamic State took his sister Marwa
Image right: A girl has been given a blanket
She screamed and tried hard to fight back and defend herself, she kicked and punched, but the evil man was stronger than her and pulled her away. My older sister Nuur was also taken by another shouting man. She screamed and fought back, but no one helped her and I don't know where she is now and why she doesn't come and take me home.
Islamic State held a gun on Yusuf's brothers
My brothers Mansuur and Habiib were forced to go with the men. Someone held a rifle to their heads, and an evil man burned Habiib with his cigarette when he tried to run away. Where is my mother? I want my mom back!" Suddenly he starts crying and stops talking.
Jasmin still holds him close and tries to comfort him as tears continue to run down her cheeks. It all seems so unbearable. She grieves with the innocent boy for the loss of his friends and neighbors.
Mariam is also shocked and has tears in her eyes. She looks at the sad scene and shakes her head. She has heard so many tragedies, yet it breaks her heart.
Jasmine sits with the poor boy in her arms for a long time on the icy floor. She doesn't feel the cold because her heart is burning. She knows that Yusuf, like many other orphans and children who have lost a parent, need warm winter clothes, blankets, medicine and food every day, but they also desperately need love and care and lots of prayers so they can get to know their Heavenly Father and feel the care of their brothers and sisters.
We can pray for Yusuf
Image on the right: Activity in a relief aid warehouse
We can pray for the boy Yusuf - for him to be psychologically healed from the trauma he has seen, for his family and for the aid workers bringing relief and care to displaced people in Iraq. Thank you for your help.
- It costs approximately DKK 680 to ensure that a refugee family
has food, water and medicine for a month.
