Turkish shell deprives family of child in Syria’s Kobani
Father of the child Abdulkarim and his brother in their house in Kobani – North Press
KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – The family visit his grave weekly, spray water onto the stones that cover his grave, recite the Fatiha and lament his early departure.
As they return, every member of the family looks at the photos of Abdulkarim Khalaf, kept on their mobile phones, some drop tears silently while the mother and grandmother scream for the bereavement afflicted the family.
Abdulkarim Khalaf, 14, from southern countryside of Kobani in northern Syria, was herding sheep when he lost his life due to a Turkish shelling.
Photos of Abdulkarim are seen hanged on the wall. He rests in peace at the graveyard of his village in the countryside of the town of Sirrin in the south of Kobani.
25 days prior to the incident, the family installed its tent close to the village of Zorava in western countryside of Kobani. They used to move every summer from their village of Abu al-Safayeh in south of Kobani to the countryside of Kobani for sheep-herding. They used to remain there for months. Before the advent of winter they would return home.
Ahmad, 16, narrates the details of the incident. He was herding with his brother their sheep close to the border with Turkey when shelling started on the western countryside of Kobani on August 16.
He points out to a Turkish military post from which machineguns were fired targeting workers in a field of vegetables close to the border. Workers left the field in panic while Abdulkarim and his brother returned with their flock to the tent installed outside the village of Zorava.
Upon their arrival, the shelling was becoming more intense. Ahmad and Abdulkarim entered the tent. Meanwhile, their maternal cousin paid them a visit to ensure they were well.
Targeting moment
As the guest arrived at the tent, Ahmad, Abdulkarim, grandfather, aunt and uncle were all awaiting to welcome him. There was no time for greetings, three shells fell nearby. Shrapnel claimed the life of Abdulkarim.
“Abd [Abdulkarim] was hit in his stomach. He fell on the ground. I tried to resuscitate him. However, he had passed away,” said Ahmad.
Ahmad was hit by shrapnel too. He looked for a car to hospitalize Abd Darwish, his relative, who sustained grave injuries in the shelling.
Abd Darwish was taken to the Amal Hospital in the city of Kobani by a neighbor. The body of Abdulkarim was taken to the same hospital too. Ahmad remained with his aunt in the village.
On that day, Turkey extensively shelled west of Kobani. Abdulkarim lost his life. Four civilians, including a woman and a child were injured. Three soldiers of the Syrian government forces were killed and six others were injured.
The shelling caused immense material damages to the tractor of the family, some 30 sheep were destroyed, too.
In the Amal Hospital, Abd Darwish still receives treatment due to the shrapnel in his leg. His hand was amputated due to the shelling.
Painful incident
Muhammad Khalaf, 42, father of Abdulkarim, described the loss of his son as “a painful catastrophe that affects all Syrians in the war.”
The bereaved father had a last phone contact with his deceased son who informed him that Kobani was under intense shelling and that the village was spared until the moment they were talking.
During the shelling, while in Tabqa city with his ill daughter, Khalaf received another call telling him he was no longer to hear the voice of Abdulkarim.
The father tried to hold back. For him, Abd [Abdulkarim] was second to none. He occupied a special position to the father. Abd was affectionate, sociable, intelligent and hardworking. He was fond of tractors, cars and motorbikes.
The death of Abd made Khalaf leave Kobani behind and return to his birth place though he used to remain in the area up to October/November.
While trying to hold back, he said he was no longer able to remain in an area witnessed the death of his son. He would never return to that spot which “reminds me of Abd”.
The family has 150 sheep which is the sole way of their living.
Under the photo of Abd sits his brother Ahmad, next to him is his father, they look at his photo lamenting the early departure of their beloved one.