Three years since the Syria conflict began, the humanitarian situation for millions of people across the country is catastrophic and only getting worse. Amid spiralling violence and fragile local ceasefire agreements, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is pushing for greater access to people in need and to be allowed to work neutrally, impartially and independently.

“Working closely with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, we delivered essential aid to hundreds of thousands of people in February. However, this is not enough given the scale of the crisis in Syria today,” said Boris Michel, head of the ICRC delegation in Damascus. “Relief is not reaching people in dire need often because we are not granted access to them. Essential goods are running critically short for millions; particularly those people trapped in besieged areas and cut off from essential health services.”

Syrian refugees at Bustana assembly point on the Jordanian/Syrian border — at least 550 refugees arrive here every day — have heartrending stories to share. The story below gives an insight into the world as it looks through the eyes of Watfa, a little girl who lost her father, as well as her childhood, to the conflict.

“I am now eight years old, and I will never forget that I spent half of my first eight years in this war! I want Syria back”

Despite her physical pain, Wafta sees her brothers and sister as a source of security. CC BY-SA 2.0 / Rasha Ahmed

“I’m from Homs. I live with my mother, my two big brothers and my sister. My father was killed and after that we didn’t feel safe anymore. He was our symbol of security.”

“My mother decided to leave Homs and come to Jordan because life had become so difficult for us, especially after we lost my father. We didn’t have any money. Me and my brothers and sister had to leave school. And I was nearly killed!”

Indeed, a sniper’s bullet hit Watfa in the abdomen. She only survived because her brothers (12 and 13) carried her to hospital. Even now, her stomach hurts when she eats or moves.

“All I want is to be with my family in a safe place. It doesn’t matter if I’m in pain, I just want to be with them, and see them happy again.”

“I am now eight years old, and I will never forget that I spent half of my first eight years in this war! I want Syria back.”

Click below for more first-person accounts:

Jordan: Syrian refugees dream of home

ICRC New Delhi