Last year after walking 60 miles across the Iraqi dessert from Najaf to #Karbala, Iraq, I met up with young orphaned boys. The full 60 mile strech had been full of tents and camps of internally displaced people who had been stranded homeless, running from the barbarity of Daesh.

The orphans I met in Karbala had lost their fathers to terrorism and war in Iraq. I shared lunch with some 50 of them at Kookh Dajjaj restaurant. The Iraqi equivalent of ChickenCottage. 

The kids munched through their lunch. The chicken and chips and the meat pizzas. It seemed as if they hadn't eaten meat in many months.

Each of us was paired up with a kid, to talk to and get to know them a little.

The kid I was paired up with was called Jawad.

He was 8 years old. In year3 at school. His father had been killed. He wanted to play AngryBirds on my mobile phone (unfortunately I didn't have any games!).

One strong feeling that I was left heartbroken with was that these kids had been left bereft of any male father figures, role models or friends. Their grief was written on their faces and painted in their eyes. Clearly impacting on their upbringing. No one to look out for their welfare.

It left me with immense satisfaction that here was someone in Karbala who found my company comforting. Ironically, I felt wanted and needed. Chatting to this 8 year old gave my visit real meaning and purpose. I couldn't do much more for Jawad apart from share a smile and talk a little bit in the broken Arabic I knew. 

I am going to Iraq this year once more. I am meeting these kids again.

Please help these and other orphans like Jawad by donating to my page

Justgiving.com/MusaArbaeen

Iraq69 £10/£5 to 70070

#iusAid #IraqOrphans #IUS