Suaad and Qasim and their children are originally from an area known as Al Salem, in Baghdad, Iraq. In 2009, Qasim, who worked as a cleaner at a military facility, was kidnapped by an unknown group of men. After several months of torture at the hands of these men, Qasim was thrown from a car and left at the roadside. He was able to find his way home in this state of trauma, and was subsequently diagnosed with schizophrenia. Under these conditions, the family made the decision to move to Syria, settling in the suburbs of Damascus in 2010. Soon after they arrived, violence erupted in the outskirts of Damascus, and again they left, seeking safety in another area of the city. But fighting was rampant and they again fled, this time back to Iraq. After returning to their home country they were assaulted and told to leave. The family believes they were threatened because rebel forces learned that Qasim had worked for the military. And so they fled to Jordan, where they are living now, but under dire circumstances and very poor conditions.
Qasim Mohamed Jasem, father, 51 years old, diagnosed with schizophrenia
Suaad, mother, 48 years old
Ruaa, 20, diagnosed with epilepsy
Abbas, 18 years old
Nabaa, 15 years old
Murtadha, 8 years old
Qasim, Suaad, and their four children are in a very vulnerable state of existence and are in need of assistance. Qasim suffers from schizophrenia and cannot work to support his family. The oldest daughter, Ruaa, is an epileptic, with an additional yet different set of needs than her father. Suaad, who is caretaker for all, cannot work to provide income because there is too much immediate need for her presence at home.
The family is UNHCR registered and has applied for resettlement. Currently, no members of the family are working and none of the children attend school. They receive food from neighbors who are also refugees and some from ARC. ARC is also paying their rent and utilities.
ARC is working in cooperation with volunteer Stefanie Ziervogl to help the Jasem family.
We hope to train the older children to fix cell phones. They have recently been accepted for resettlement to the USA (Ohio). This is a skill they could use while in Jordan or once they settle into the USA.
For further information, please contact Stefanie at
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