When I first arrived in Syria, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. After 12 years of conflict and a devastating earthquake earlier this year, I feared the worst. I arrived in April for a five-week mission to support UNICEF’s earthquake response and cholera response.
I traveled to Aleppo using the main highway connecting the north to the south of Syria. I saw destroyed roads and ghost towns everywhere as people had fled their homes during the long years of conflict to escape its terrible effects. I wondered: where are all these people now that had to leave everything behind?
I arrived in Aleppo to support the UNICEF Health Team with procurement and logistics planning related to the earthquake response and to prepare for the cholera response. We met with local authorities to discuss local procurement authorization for medicines and offshore procurement.
I also visited UNICEF’s warehouse to assess the storage capacity given the volume of supplies in the pipeline and confirm if further support is needed.
The earthquake was so quick, so loud and so powerful. A random act of nature that no one could possibly prepare for.
I had the privilege of visiting a local school in Aleppo where I got to meet incredible children, some with physical or learning disabilities. UNICEF was distributing Early Childhood Development (ECD) kits to the school, and it was wonderful to see the children play and have fun with the puppets, puzzles and boardgames included in these kits. Many children seemed deeply affected by the earthquake and were already vulnerable before the earthquake struck.
Their teacher told me that the earthquake was worse for many people than 12 years of conflict. The earthquake was so quick, so loud and so powerful. A random act of nature that no one could possibly prepare for.
Inclusive education
One young six-year-old boy had lost his ability to speak after the earthquake. He began to stutter and couldn’t express himself clearly. Many children don’t want to be left alone in a classroom and get nervous when they hear loud noises outside. The school now provides a special classroom for children who need extra support. When they appear to be struggling, they can go to a class for six to eight children and receive more attention from their teacher. I’m very proud to work for an organization that promotes inclusive education and provides support and comfort to children living in such difficult situations.
The most treasured memory I take with me is the kindness, generosity, and warmth of the Syrian people. They speak about the tragedies of the past with such hope for a better future and a humanity that always remains.
The experience in the school made a lasting impression on me. I met children that were the same age as my son, and I tried to imagine how he would feel in their situation. I also met some Brazilian football fans (my home country) and received a demonstration too!
It was an honour for me to support the UNICEF Syria team, their Supply and Logistics team, and their Programme teams. They have been working in emergency mode for so many years and they always deliver with such a high level of professionalism, dedication, and excellence. I look forward to continuing to support the team with their emergency planning and supply response when I return to UNICEF Supply Division in Copenhagen.
The most treasured memory I take with me is the kindness, generosity, and warmth of the Syrian people. They speak about the tragedies of the past with such hope for a better future and a humanity that always remains.
