November 5, 2007
Amman, Jordan
Yesterday I visited a family whose 10 year old son is
working for 8JD a week, that is about $10. A sweet
faced slip of a child, he smiled as I took a picture
of him at his work place. His father meanwhile
suffers the humiliation of idleness and the inability
to support his wife and other children. Beset by
death threats, they fled to Amman about ten months
ago; their home in Baghdad is now occupied by militia.
I felt embarrassed as I offered them a small gift of
money, money from a family in the states who wants to
help Iraqis stuck here. The family is in need of
basic foodstuffs, furniture, blankets and a heater as
winter approaches. They once had work, a car and
their own home. I met the wife and mother with her
smallest child in tow on a bus last week. We were
both making our way to the UNHCR. She to beg
assistance.
