Since the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in 2011, more than 5 million children have been born in Syria, many of whom have grown up with conflict, poverty and hunger. Many children have suffered great psychological trauma and still live in fear of violence, while others have taken on the burden of family prematurely because of various changes in the family. Recently, a reporter from the Central Radio and Television Station visited the central Syrian city of Homs to follow the camera to understand.
In an abandoned shop in the eastern part of the Syrian city of Homs, 12-year-old Mohammed and his brother Haidar are using liquefied petroleum gas canisters to feed small gas stoves, which requires great caution because the gas is flammable and explosive.
Mohammed, a 12-year-old Syrian child: I usually go to school, and every day after school I come here to pack gas canisters, we first buy this 14-kilogram gas canister, and then sell it in separate packages for a profit of 20%.
Mohammed told reporters that Syria's energy shortage is serious, and ordinary families cannot afford the cost of a whole gas tank, so they sell the gas separately, and they can earn 20,000 Syrian pounds (about 17 yuan) for each gas tank sold short. In addition, he will also go to the ruins to pick up some plastic, metal, etc. and sell them at the scrapyard, and he can also have some small income.
Mohammed, a 12-year-old Syrian child: I pick up some nylon material and sell it for 1,000 pounds per kilogram. I can pick up 3 to 4 kilograms a day, and plastic, and I can sell 400 to 500 Syrian pounds per kilogram, and I can earn about 10,000 Syrian pounds (about 8.8 yuan) a day.
Seeing his son's small figure rushing around every day for the family's food and clothing, his father Feraz felt very uncomfortable, but he couldn't do anything. In 2014, in order to defend his homeland, Feraz voluntarily joined the team to fight extremist organizations, and has been fighting on the front line for a long time, in an operation, Feraz was unfortunately hit by snipers of extremist organizations, although he eventually survived, but many organs of his body were damaged, not only had to endure severe pain, but also lost the ability to work.
Mohammed's father, Feraz: When we fight extremist groups, they have all kinds of weapons, they are supported by the United States, and sometimes the US Air Force covers them. I lost a kidney, which also affected my whole body, and now I have problems with this kidney. I needed another surgery before my condition worsened, but we couldn't afford it.
His father, who was afflicted by illness and who had moved countless times, were Muhammad's childhood memories. He told reporters that although the family can only live in a leaky broken house and eat the simplest food, as long as his parents and siblings are well, he can earn money to feed the family, and he is already very happy.
Mohammed, a 12-year-old Syrian child: The happiest thing is that I can work hard to earn money, go to school, and help my parents. My brothers and sisters are safe, my parents are well, and I can eat well, which is probably the happiest thing for me.
Speaking of the future of his children, his father Feraz was a little emotional, saying that Syria used to be a beautiful country, but because of the intervention of the United States and other external forces, Syria is now devastated and the economy is in ruins, and he is very worried about the future.
Mohammed's father Feraz: Not only my toiling children, but many children are starving because our country is under sanctions. These sanctions were imposed by the United States. The United States is to blame, and we suffer psychological, spiritual, as well as economic and financial problems.
At the end of the interview, Mohammed said softly how much he wished the war had never happened, but now he would study well and become a doctor in the future to heal the wounded people here.
Mohammed, a 12-year-old Syrian child: I hope my father has not been injured, and I hope that the war has never happened. I want to be a doctor and heal all who suffer from illness.
Ni Zihui: In the interview, Mohammed has been frowning, and his words reveal maturity that does not belong to his age, while children in other countries are growing up happily, Syrian children have to live in fear of war and shoulder the burden of their families prematurely. Mohammed said he hoped that one day Syria would be free from sanctions and embrace peace, and that children here would have a happy childhood he did not have. (Main station reporter Ni Zihui)
Source: CCTV News Client