ZAATARI, Jordan — It has been years since Da'ed and her family fled Syria, but when her granddaughter asks where her mother and father are, the 60-year-old woman cannot find the right words to explain. In fact, Najoua, 4, still doesn’t know that her parents were killed by regime airstrikes in Daraa province two years ago. In total, 140 people were killed that day, including Najoua's father and her pregnant mother.

"They found Najoua under the rubble of what used to be their house. She was the only one in that small village who survived the attack. Therefore, I call her my little miracle," her grandmother tells Al-Monitor, speaking from her trailer in Zaatari refugee camp, where everyone has a tale of loss and sorrow.

For a brief second, Da’ed pauses, looks at her granddaughter and puts her hand on her chest. "My heart aches when I think of all the people I know who have died," Da’ed says, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. She wipes away a tear. Because they fled to Jordan almost immediately after the attack, she did not even have time to mourn her deceased daughter.

"I had to be strong for this little girl," she says with a loud, sharp voice while lighting up a cigarette.