As winter sets in Razia Anwar has been visiting Syrian and Palestinian refugee camps in Jordan. Here, in the second part of her report on trying to cross into Palestine to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque before heading to the Al-Zarqa Refugee camp.


It has been a long day which started at 6.30am, attire was an abaya and new red lacy shoes to replace my furry warm hiking boots for the day. 

I deliberated taking my phone after my last two Israeli interrogations this year, however my impulsive nature warranted my lifeline, justified by important phone calls that I needed to make between group members, the guide and drivers.
 
We passed easily through the Jordanian border and on to a bus for 15 mins which took us to King Hussein border (Allenby Bridge). 

The security checks were made, inquisitive questions were asked about our intended visit. Three out of eight were granted entry instantly, the 4th after 20 minutes. 

Myself and the remaining three sat on the plastic chairs watching the clock as we realised our wish to pray Jumma prayer in Al Aqsa mosque was slowly eroding away. 

As the time slowly moved on and we sat on tender hooks, eagerly anticipating our red passports would emerge with a granted visa. 

In our waiting area we sat with 7 Coptic Christian priests who were attending a funeral in Bethlehem, 2 hijab wearing nuns, a German man hoping to visit his girlfriend in Ramallah who fought our corner to grant us entry and more importantly to treat us well.

Two Palestinian males and an American Egyptian called Ameer on a 5 day tourist schedule. We shared our chocolates and smiles with everyone in the waiting room regardless of faith, colour or status. 

During our wait we heard shouts from the security baggage scanners with security running towards us shouting run. I got a taste of pure fear, where everyone on both sides looked frightened.

 Minutes later after no explosion, they realised it was a false alarm.

It made me think how difficult it must to constantly live in an intense environment.

We sat down and again resumed visa banter. 

The only time the silence broke was when the British 4 (namely Nadia ) that's us erupted in laughter and whoop whoop watching Ameer being granted a visa, the Israeli security official even broke in to a smile. 

Ameer kissed the Coptic priest's hand and set off a smile and joy from the front row of black robes, hats and big crosses. 

As travellers slowly dispersed to the left on to Israeli land, we sat as the cleaners began to mop around us, the border had closed for the day and we now sat in an empty lifeless area. 

We did not get entry into Israel as we requested our passports back knowing the five hour delay resulted in missing Jumma and Asr Salah in Al Aqsa.  

Every experience and moment gained is to learn and appreciate life and it's colourful people we share our intriguingly challenging world with. 

Could I really have prayed for the third time this year in Al Aqsa?

It was beyond expectations to think that the Israeli security would be kind and understand religious spirituality.  It was too much to expect the Israelis to not fear me as a threat. 

A difference of opinions, a threat to write and raise awareness for the Palestinians. 

To experience restricted movement, safety and freedom, to be left in an empty waiting room when all others were granted access.

To be treated like a second class citizen is beyond comprehension for someone who was born and raised in Britain and lives with rights, freedom and equality.

Unfortunately with me, the other three were not granted access, may be I was a reason for their refusal of entry. 

The Israeli airport security’s rude and unhelpful attitude towards us we will never know the exact reason.

 Morning started with a supermarket sweep in the biscuit and chocolate aisle with Saira to give out to children throughout the day, followed by an ATM run for more funds donated towards projects which we would give by our own hands and have updates for donors.

The morning was spent at Al-Zarqa centre at Al-Zarqa Refugee camp distributing 50 food parcels for 50 Palestinian families. 

Al-Zarqa refugee centre was the second Palestinian camp set up after the Nakba 1948.

The centre comprised of a teaching room with computers, IT facilities for homework, Quran teaching classes, there was also a medical centre set up with maternity room, dental room and doctors room. 

Some of the dental and medical equipment had been donated and was not in the best condition. 

However, they were happy with the facilities they had put together to help orphans and needy families for free and other families paid a minimal amount. 

After lunch we went to Al-sukhna centre in Al sukhna refugee camp. 

At the beginning of the week, global Rahmah local guide mentioned that the refugee mothers were struggling with feeding their children as baby formula and nappies were too expensive to buy. 

During the winter months parents would find this the greatest hardship. Instantly Nadia and I looked at each other and decided this was the project that needed some personal attention before we left back to the UK. 

Within four days our fundraising total had reached a healthy impressive £4500. 

We walked in to a room of possibly 200 families, children of various ages well behaved sat with their mothers. 

The baby formula and nappies were ready to distribute as well as Winter jackets that the children had chosen for themselves. 

A mother with nine children spoke of her anguish of having to feed her baby water with sugar as she could not afford milk. 

She used fabric cloth as nappies which were washed daily and reused. 

The colder months she would have found it very difficult to continue doing this. Her husband had been in a terrible accident and had a slipped disc. 

She had borrowed a coat for her son to take him to see a doctor from a neighbour. 

The help she was receiving from charities was appreciated and she continuously thanked us.

Our next trip will be to Lesvos in January to help Syrian refugees, with the help of Nadia Mohammed from Abu Faisal Trust. Please contact me on 07939 013974 if you wish to donate towards the refugee crisis.