In this edition, 18 year old Layan Azza asks her grandfather what Aida Camp was like when he arrived there as a boy 60 years ago, and was forced to live and study in makeshift tents. She then compares it with the present day camp which has become a virtual small town with houses that have electricity, satellite TV and even, in some cases, the Internet.
My grandfather, now 75 years old, was one of the first refugees to arrive here. He was 14 years old.
How long have you been living in the camp?
MOHAMAD AZZA (Layan’s Grandfather): Around 60 years.
LAYAN AZZA: Can you describe what Aida Camp looked like when you first arrived?
MOHAMAD AZZA: The camp was just a piece of land…Some trees and big rocks. And every family, they had a tent from UNRWA and they built it and they put the stones around the tent.
It was very hard for us, especially in the winter. Some nights it would snow and the tent [would] fall down on the family…on the kids and the family. And maybe some head of that family [would spend] all the night holding the tent, till the morning.
LAYAN AZZA: What did you take to camp with you from your home in Beit Jibreen?
MOHAMAD AZZA: We didn’t take anything…heavy things. We took our dress, special dresses…and some mattresses and covers…to cover us and our kids during the night when we were walking from our village to Hebron. We walked from our village to Hebron [over] 2 nights and we had some mattresses and covers only. We couldn’t carry anything heavy because we didn’t have any cars with us or anything. Because we were thinking maybe we’ll return back after 2 days, 3 days, a week…2 weeks.
LAYAN AZZA: Did you get your keys to your home?
MOHAMAD AZZA: Yes, it was with my mother and father. The key means to me that I have to return to my home, to my village, to my land…one day. I hope that.
LAYAN AZZA: How was the situation here? What sort of life did people have here in The Camp?
MOHAMAD AZZA: The situation was very, very hard for the people. There was no work. They don’t have money. They didn’t have any food – they didn’t have anything. Except what UNRWA gave them. In the first ten – fifteen years, they gave the people every month some flour, rice and sugar or something. That’s it. People were poor, they were very sad living in their tents. They can’t go out because they don’t have any anything with them.
LAYAN AZZA: You were still a kid at school when you came here, so…were there any classes or teaches in the camp?
MOHAMAD AZZA: We had teachers…but we didn’t have any chairs, any desks, any things…We sat on the earth – on the ground. Around 3 or four years [were] like this. And after that, UNRWA started to bring chairs and desks to the students and big tents.
LAYAN AZZA: That was my Grandfather, talking about The Camp when he arrived 60 years ago.
[Sound of kids playing in the school courtyard]
Now it’s different; we have 2 schools: one for the boys and one for the girls. We don’t live in tents anymore. Now we have houses and electricity. Some people have satellite TV and a few people have internet. Water? Water is still a big problem…But, it is also a big story – for another time.
When my Grandfather came here there were around 160 people…but now, we have around 5000 people living in the same space. So we are crowded!
I hate living in the camp because I know my family once had land. But now, somebody else is living on that land.
Hi Layan,
Loved your podcast!
It was very interesting to hear from your Grandfather about the hardships he endured and the stark contrasts of lifestyle Aida Camp compared to today. Keep up the good work!
Michael
Hi Micheal ,
thanks alot for your comment , i’m so pleased you listened to my report .
so where are you from ? and if you can tell me a littel about your self and about your contry if you please ?
layan
Hi Layan,
I’m from Australia, but my grandparents came from Lebanon about 80 years ago! I’m embarassed to say I do not speak any Arabic, which is very sad. My home town is Sydney, where I work in event management. My last job was for the Olympic Games in Beijing, which was amazing. I tried to visit Beirut in 2006 but my flight was cancelled at the last minute because of the Israeli bombings of the airport. I look forward to your futire podcasts and hope you are enjoying the Radio Lajee experience!
Michael
Hi Michael ,
I’m so happy you reaplied about my comment . I think your home town is Lebenon not Australia with my all love for the Austranian peaple. And I’m so sad and happy at the same time ,because you can not speak arabic ,but it’s ok to write and reaply to you in english , because i’m in the first year in the university and i’m studying english.
I’m so sorry, I like sport but I like the football games the best more than any other sport , but I like baskestball and I was playing it in my school because in the camp we don’t have any place to play or to do anything .
thanks again for your reaply to me and good luck in your job.
layan
hi layan
how r u?
sho had konty raw3a betjaneny
keep going
good luck sweety
thanks sweety ..
how are you 2 ? i miss you more , i’m fine i’m looking like evrey people hear in palestine for whats happen in gaza strake i will keep going and wait me in anther report in after we finsh our final exam
love you more and good luck in your exam in suaterday ..
see you soon
layan
Hi Layan
I loved hearing your grandfather describe how it was for him and how the camp was at the beginning. I liked your report because it was ot political; people in the west get suspicious when information is too political, I think this is because in the west people have too many things being sold or advertized to them every day on the radio and on television so they don’t always trust what they hear.
What I loved about your broadcast was that you where very factual, and also very human and real, you reminded me of some people I visited in Nepal, They have also been moved aways from their land (in Tibet) 50 years ago – and the new generation can only think of their family land because of the stories told by their grandparents.
I think you did an amazing job.. thank you!
Hector
Hi Layan!
I loved your podcast!!! I liked what you said at the very end about how you feel knowing that your family had a home and land. I am interested to see what you will talk about next:) I miss you and everyone at Lajee!
Keep up the amazing work!
Hi Layan,
A very nice – and very clear – interview with your grandfather, very interesting also. Better than many ‘professional’ radio interviews!
I hope you will go on making things like this.
Good luck!
Marianne Houben from the Netherlands.
Hi Layan,
I only just listened to your podcast tonight. It was wonderful! I am so proud of all you have achieved. You spoke so beautifully, and so did your grandfather. It was wonderful to listen to you both. I look forward to hearing more from you.
Helen
Hi Layan,My son Ben,who just visited Aida Camp sent me your link. It is wonderful to hear your grandpa and you speak about your history. The questions are very good and it helps to make it very clear about what you have experienced. Thank you for doing this podcast.
Andy
Marhaba Layan,
Alf shukr lhatha al-podcast!
Listening to this was so sad 🙁 …but also so inspiring. I think the fact that your grandfather’s family took their keys with them when they set off on their journey symbolises everything that the Palestinian struggle is about. Well done to everyone at Aida for the impressive work they’ve done over the last 62 years to make it what it is today and I’m sure it will continue to get better- just like your English has over the past 2 years! 😛
allah yer7mo