Published : 14-01-2025
How could a little girl, Rand, who carried a deadly asthma in her chest, the smell of gunpowder in her memory, and lost her father in the darkness of detention, transform her pain into paintings that adorn the walls of a Turkish city far from the Yarmouk camp where she was born?
, as described by Fayez Abu Eid in his story as part of the joint project between the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria and the Palestine House of Culture, tells the story of a child who defied illness, war, and displacement, transforming her tragedy into creativity that bears witness to the steadfastness of Palestinian
refugees. A Flash in the Dark
Fayez Abu Eid
In the midst of the first dawn, a new spirit emerged into life, like a wild flower blooming in the bosom of nature. She was Rand, a child with eyes like the emerald sea, hair like threads of gold, and skin that mimicked the purity of snow.
But the joy was not complete, as a dark shadow soon loomed over the birth scene, when the little girl began to struggle with her first breaths. Thus, instead of her mother embracing her with great joy, she found herself anxiously carrying her to the hospital, where Rand’s second birth was announced - her birth with asthma that would accompany her throughout her life.
In 2004, Rand opened her eyes to a world full of challenges and dreams. She grew up in a modest family, where the father toiled day and night, while the mother combined her work, studies, and raising her children with threads of determination. Yarmouk Camp was her little world, and she moved between its alleys like a little butterfly, reading the words of the revolution on its walls and listening to the songs of her Palestinian grandmother, who still carried the key to her house in Palestine as if it were a part of her soul.
But life, as usual, did not let the little girl enjoy her childhood for long. In a moment, the fires of the revolution ignited, and their house, located in the heart of Palestine Square, turned into a witness to shelling, clashes, and sniping. Thus began a new journey of displacement and suffering, accompanied by the smell of gunpowder that still lingers in Rand’s memory to this day. Rand clearly remembers that fateful day, when the Free Syrian Army took control of the camp. The deadly silence that prevailed in the place, then the terrifying sound of the tanks of the defunct regime’s army storming Palestine Street Square. Moments of terror and chaos, as the mother grabbed her two children and rushed with them to the bottom of the building, hiding them in a closet amidst the thick smoke of gunpowder. Rand was certain that she would not survive, but fate willed that she and her family emerge from this ordeal alive.
After this incident, the family decided to move to their grandfather’s house, but the Abdul Qader al-Husseini massacre on 12/16/2012 forced them to flee en masse. It was a painful scene, thousands of people leaving Yarmouk camp carrying what was light and expensive, leaving behind the memories of a lifetime and the scents of childhood. The smell of blood mixed with the smell of gunpowder in the mosque remained stuck in Rand's memory, always reminding her of a lost homeland and a stolen childhood.
The family moved to Jdeidet Artouz in the Damascus countryside, hoping for a new beginning, but fate had other ideas. One dark night, there was a violent knock on the door of the house, and the fugitive regime forces appeared to arrest Rand's father for no clear reason. Those were the harshest moments Rand had ever experienced in her life. Her screams and pleas were of no use in the face of the cruelty of the security forces. And so the father disappeared, leaving behind an unfillable void and unanswered questions.
In the midst of these harsh conditions, the mother made the difficult decision to travel to Turkey in search of safety and a decent life. There, Rand began a new chapter in her life. She learned the Turkish language and discovered her passion for Japanese animation. She worked hard to develop her talent in drawing characters, dazzling everyone who saw her drawings.
But life, once again, had another say and opinion. At the age of fourteen, Rand suffered a severe asthma attack during a family trip. Those were difficult moments, as she fought for every breath while she was in the heart of the forest, far from any medical center or hospital. Thanks to her mother’s quick wit and the help of a Turkish citizen, Rand was able to reach the hospital in time, but the damage had already been done, which led to the deterioration of her health and forced her into quarantine for a whole year.
During the quarantine period, Rand went through difficult moments of depression and isolation, but with the spirit of resistance she inherited from her grandparents, she decided to use this time to develop her drawing skills and improve her English. When her health improved, she joined the Youth Center in Iskenderun, where its director discovered her unique talent.
The opportunity to paint a mural at the center was a turning point in Rand’s life. She caught the attention of officials and was honored by the Director of the Iskenderun Municipality. She participated in a conference on the role of youth in society, and became part of a team of artists to paint a mural in the heart of the city.
Thus, Rand stood in front of her mural, proud of her achievement, facing the astonished looks of passersby who could not believe that she was a Palestinian refugee. She would tell them with confidence: “Yes, I am a refugee, but I am a person who fled the hell of war. I lost my father, and I want to live in peace.”
This is the story of Rand, a girl who was born in a Palestinian camp and found herself a refugee in Turkey. It is a story of pain and hope, of loss and determination, and of the power of creativity in the face of adversity. It is not just a story of asylum, but a story of humanity that defies all odds and paints with the colors of hope on the walls of the future.
How could a little girl, Rand, who carried a deadly asthma in her chest, the smell of gunpowder in her memory, and lost her father in the darkness of detention, transform her pain into paintings that adorn the walls of a Turkish city far from the Yarmouk camp where she was born?
, as described by Fayez Abu Eid in his story as part of the joint project between the Action Group for Palestinians of Syria and the Palestine House of Culture, tells the story of a child who defied illness, war, and displacement, transforming her tragedy into creativity that bears witness to the steadfastness of Palestinian
refugees. A Flash in the Dark
Fayez Abu Eid
In the midst of the first dawn, a new spirit emerged into life, like a wild flower blooming in the bosom of nature. She was Rand, a child with eyes like the emerald sea, hair like threads of gold, and skin that mimicked the purity of snow.
But the joy was not complete, as a dark shadow soon loomed over the birth scene, when the little girl began to struggle with her first breaths. Thus, instead of her mother embracing her with great joy, she found herself anxiously carrying her to the hospital, where Rand’s second birth was announced - her birth with asthma that would accompany her throughout her life.
In 2004, Rand opened her eyes to a world full of challenges and dreams. She grew up in a modest family, where the father toiled day and night, while the mother combined her work, studies, and raising her children with threads of determination. Yarmouk Camp was her little world, and she moved between its alleys like a little butterfly, reading the words of the revolution on its walls and listening to the songs of her Palestinian grandmother, who still carried the key to her house in Palestine as if it were a part of her soul.
But life, as usual, did not let the little girl enjoy her childhood for long. In a moment, the fires of the revolution ignited, and their house, located in the heart of Palestine Square, turned into a witness to shelling, clashes, and sniping. Thus began a new journey of displacement and suffering, accompanied by the smell of gunpowder that still lingers in Rand’s memory to this day. Rand clearly remembers that fateful day, when the Free Syrian Army took control of the camp. The deadly silence that prevailed in the place, then the terrifying sound of the tanks of the defunct regime’s army storming Palestine Street Square. Moments of terror and chaos, as the mother grabbed her two children and rushed with them to the bottom of the building, hiding them in a closet amidst the thick smoke of gunpowder. Rand was certain that she would not survive, but fate willed that she and her family emerge from this ordeal alive.
After this incident, the family decided to move to their grandfather’s house, but the Abdul Qader al-Husseini massacre on 12/16/2012 forced them to flee en masse. It was a painful scene, thousands of people leaving Yarmouk camp carrying what was light and expensive, leaving behind the memories of a lifetime and the scents of childhood. The smell of blood mixed with the smell of gunpowder in the mosque remained stuck in Rand's memory, always reminding her of a lost homeland and a stolen childhood.
The family moved to Jdeidet Artouz in the Damascus countryside, hoping for a new beginning, but fate had other ideas. One dark night, there was a violent knock on the door of the house, and the fugitive regime forces appeared to arrest Rand's father for no clear reason. Those were the harshest moments Rand had ever experienced in her life. Her screams and pleas were of no use in the face of the cruelty of the security forces. And so the father disappeared, leaving behind an unfillable void and unanswered questions.
In the midst of these harsh conditions, the mother made the difficult decision to travel to Turkey in search of safety and a decent life. There, Rand began a new chapter in her life. She learned the Turkish language and discovered her passion for Japanese animation. She worked hard to develop her talent in drawing characters, dazzling everyone who saw her drawings.
But life, once again, had another say and opinion. At the age of fourteen, Rand suffered a severe asthma attack during a family trip. Those were difficult moments, as she fought for every breath while she was in the heart of the forest, far from any medical center or hospital. Thanks to her mother’s quick wit and the help of a Turkish citizen, Rand was able to reach the hospital in time, but the damage had already been done, which led to the deterioration of her health and forced her into quarantine for a whole year.
During the quarantine period, Rand went through difficult moments of depression and isolation, but with the spirit of resistance she inherited from her grandparents, she decided to use this time to develop her drawing skills and improve her English. When her health improved, she joined the Youth Center in Iskenderun, where its director discovered her unique talent.
The opportunity to paint a mural at the center was a turning point in Rand’s life. She caught the attention of officials and was honored by the Director of the Iskenderun Municipality. She participated in a conference on the role of youth in society, and became part of a team of artists to paint a mural in the heart of the city.
Thus, Rand stood in front of her mural, proud of her achievement, facing the astonished looks of passersby who could not believe that she was a Palestinian refugee. She would tell them with confidence: “Yes, I am a refugee, but I am a person who fled the hell of war. I lost my father, and I want to live in peace.”
This is the story of Rand, a girl who was born in a Palestinian camp and found herself a refugee in Turkey. It is a story of pain and hope, of loss and determination, and of the power of creativity in the face of adversity. It is not just a story of asylum, but a story of humanity that defies all odds and paints with the colors of hope on the walls of the future.