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STORY: SYRIA / HOMS RETURNEE FAMILY
TRT: 02:49
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 28 APRIL 2017, HOMS, SYRIA
28 APRIL 2017, HOMS, SYRIA
1. Wide shot, al-Haje family walking down street
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul Kader al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“Regardless of the circumstances, a person cannot find comfort anywhere other than his home.”
3. Various shots, destroyed buildings
4. Med shot, al-Haje family walking down street
5. Wide shot, al-Haje family entering building
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul Kader al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“When you come back, you feel shocked honestly. When you first see the scene (of destruction), it shocks you. At first I didn’t react at all. I was like a person who was struck with astonishment from the first shock.”7. Various shots, al-Haje family walking through hallways
8. Wide shot, al-Haje family sitting on floor in apartment
9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul Kader al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“I walked in for five ten minutes and left. I couldn’t take it. Then after a couple of weeks I found the courage to come back.”
10. Tracking, Abdul Kader pointing to holes in wall he had repaired
11. Various shots, Dania walking among destroyed buildings
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dania al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“We really suffered while moving around. Fear alone was something else. We were so scared, moving around from house to house, taking everything with us, including clothes.”
13. Wide shot, Dania walking by destroyed building
14. Various shots, Saleh walking among rubble
15. Tilt down, from destroyed school to Saleh
16. Close up, school window
17. Med shot, Saleh looking at school
18. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saleh al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“Is this is the school where I spend my days, my life, and was so beautiful? It was very shocking to come see it like this.”
19. Rack focus, Saleh looking at school
20. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saleh al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“I want to continue studying and become an astronaut so I can see all the planets. What’s happening will not stop me at all. I want to focus on my education and I will not give up.”
21. Wide shot, destroyed city
22. Wide shot, bus driving by destroyed buildings
23. Wide shot, destroyed building
After being uprooted five times by fighting in Homs, Abdul Kader al-Haje and his family are making the best of resettling back in their home, among the debris.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul Kader al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“Regardless of the circumstances, a person cannot find comfort anywhere other than his home.”
Six years of war left little of Homs standing. After moving five times, al-Haje family decided to return home. Abdul Kader said he was in awe by the sheer level of destruction.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul Kader al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“When you come back, you feel shocked honestly. When you first see the scene (of destruction), it shocks you. At first I didn’t react at all. I was like a person who was struck with astonishment from the first shock.”
Abdul Kader returned here with his wife and three children. He said it took them some time to accept the reality.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Abdul Kader al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“I walked in for five ten minutes and left. I couldn’t take it. Then after a couple of weeks I found the courage to come back.”
With the help of a local NGO, the family was able to get a power line and running water. They slowly started cleaning and removing the rubble to try to bring back some sense of normalcy. Fourteen-year old Dania describes the family’s struggle away from home.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Dania al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“We really suffered while moving around. Fear alone was something else. We were so scared, moving around from house to house, taking everything with us, including clothes.”
Her 12-year old brother Saleh said he used to have many friends here.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saleh al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“Is this is the school where I spend my days, my life, and was so beautiful? It was very shocking to come see it like this.”
He said so many days have been wasted while he was displaced and he is now behind on school. But the circumstances will not get the best of him.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saleh al-Haje, Syrian returnee:
“I want to continue studying and become an astronaut so I can see all the planets. What’s happening will not stop me at all. I want to focus on my education and I will not give up.”
Many neighbourhoods in Old Homs now look like this. Only a few families are able to call the ruins home.
