Syrian refugees tell of barrel bombing horror
Recent Syrian arrivals in Turkey speak of the horror and impact of barrel bombs on civilian neighborhoods.
KILIS, Turkey — With her pale face and dark circles under her eyes, Amal looks like she hasn’t slept in days. And she hasn’t, she tells Al-Monitor, because of the constant explosions in her neighborhood. Two days before, Amal and her children fled to Turkey with only a few suitcases, leaving everything else behind.
In a park near the Turkish-Syrian border, the woman describes why she had to leave her house in Aleppo, the home where she lived happily for more than 20 years. Surrounded by her three adult daughters, she said, “Day and night, we were afraid that one of those bombs might hit our building. I thought I was going to lose my mind."
Behind her are the Syrian mountains. Nearby, 7-year-old Mohammed, her grandson, plays with his uncle. Amal looks at him, smiles for a bit, and bursts into tears. She cried, “My son brought us here and then went back to Syria to work. Now, Mohammed constantly asks us if his father is still alive."
Her daughter Marwa gives her a paper towel. With her other hand, she covers her eyes.
