Mrajeeb Al Fahood, Jordan: A 105-year-old Syrian refugee keeps breaking into a song that speaks of her longing for her war-torn home.
Residing in the Mrajeeb Al Fahood Emirati-Jordanian refugee camp, Shaikha Al Azzam, with what little strength remains in her fading voice, sings the verses from a song composed by the late Egyptian artist Ahmad Abdul Qader in 1916.
She was only five back then.
Al Azzam, the oldest woman in the camp, still manages to greet guests to her tent with the warmest of smiles. Despite her frailty due to age, and weak vision in one eye due to diabetes, Al Azzam remains in general good health, to the extent that she is able to recall the names of all 66 of her grandchildren.
Al Azzam cannot read or write, but can still speak French fluently. She is the mother of three sons and one daughter. Her daughter, who is now 85 years old, gave birth to eight daughters and four sons, and is the only of her children who is still alive.
“I spend most of my time with my daughter. We enjoy walking around the camp during sunset,” said Al Azzam.
Her neighbours often visit her tent to reminisce about memories of Homs, Aleppo, Damascus and Daraa. Two of her grandchildren who reside in the camp visit her often and take care of her.
Salem Al Mazroui, deputy director of the camp, said that all refugees are treated as brothers, as per the directives of the UAE leadership. Al Mazroui pointed out that the elderly are provided with a salary due to their inability to work.
“If the elderly are immobile, they are provided with a washroom, as well as a wheelchair, if requested,” said Al Mazroui. The Emirati-Jordanian camp currently shelters 7,100 refugees, among them 85 elderly people who are older than 65 and are provided with special care.
