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Syrian‌ City of Suweida Grapples with Renewed Conflict, Venezuelan Community Finds Resilience Amidst Fear

Suweida, Syria – ​renewed clashes are shattering a fragile truce in Syria’s Suweida province, forcing residents – including a growing Venezuelan community – to confront⁣ escalating ‌violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis. While the region once offered a ⁤haven for those ⁢seeking refuge from Syria’s civil war, it is now facing a resurgence​ of conflict, leaving many trapped between two worlds and fearing ‌for their lives.

Suweida has become an unlikely home to a significant number of‌ Venezuelans, many of Druze heritage, who sought stability and connection to their roots in the early years of the syrian conflict. However, the recent breakdown of the truce has brought the horrors of war directly to their doorsteps, mirroring the instability they initially fled.

“I saw a mortar fall in front of my house,” recounts a Venezuelan engineer, whose name has ‍been withheld for security reasons. She describes a daily reality punctuated by bombings ⁣and the trauma inflicted upon ​her three children. Her story is echoed by⁢ others, detailing murdered friends, burned towns, and forced displacements. “I want to get out ‌of here.I can no longer continue⁤ living with this fear.”

The escalating violence is compounded⁣ by a breakdown in ​economic and political ties between Syria and Venezuela. Remittances from family members in South America, a vital lifeline for many, are dwindling due to inflation and difficulties with money transfers. Carmelinda, a Venezuelan woman assisting her neighbors in Suweida, highlights the desperate ‌situation. “My mother has diabetes and there is no insulin. I can’t leave⁣ her, even though they offered me to return to Venezuela.” She describes a landscape where even basic necessities like drinking water are scarce.

Reports of atrocities are also surfacing. Carmelinda recounts a horrific incident where a mother and two children were murdered‍ in their home, their killers openly ​boasting of their motives. She and​ her neighbors have endured direct threats, living ‌in fear and taking shelter in her home, “we have shots in the walls and we are afraid to use candles in case they see the light from outside.”

Despite⁣ the pervasive fear, the ‌Venezuelan community in Suweida‍ is demonstrating​ remarkable resilience. carmelinda, who runs a crafts workshop to ‍support the mental health of women impacted by the conflict, embodies this spirit. “I don’t‍ do great actions, but when people know that there is‌ someone who helps, that is already comforting.Peace ‌starts ⁢with small⁣ things,”⁣ she says.

Both interviewees express a deep connection to Venezuela, viewing it ‍as a homeland they long to return to. “When I return, the first thing I will do is kiss the earth,”‌ Carmelinda states, even without immediate family remaining ‍there. The engineer⁤ emphasizes the⁢ shared⁣ values between the syrian and Venezuelan people ‍- dignity, joy, and honesty ‌- particularly within the Druze community. “This has created a very special touch.”

Suweida, once a symbol of cultural reunion,⁤ is now ‌a fractured city. Yet, the ‌Venezuelan community continues to maintain its identity and offer support, finding strength in shared heritage and a determination to persevere, even in the face of unimaginable hardship. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of conflict and the enduring power of hope amidst despair.