Letters from Exile

In the spring of this year, the Campaign for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights, helped facilitate email correspondence between refugee children from Deheishe camp in the West Bank and Shatila camp in Lebanon as part of the Campaign's efforts to empower the refugee community by rebuilding ties between refugees in various places of exile. The letters below express some of the common sentiments among refugees, adults and children alike, to return to their homes and lands in Palestine.

Hello,

It's a good chance for me to write down these words to my brothers Walid Balqis and Usama Abu al-Sheikh, also for all children in Shatila camp. I can't wait to hear from you. My name is Munther Issa. I'm 13 years old in eighth class. From my childhood I am just thinking about you all the time in the camp, the massacre, everything. I think we must be together as a union in the future.

thanks so much,
Munther Issa (Deheishe)

Dear Munther Issa,

I received your letter happily. I love to have friends in Palestine to talk about Palestine. My name is Usama Abu al-Sheikh. I'm fifteen years old in tenth grade. I always think about you in the camp in Palestine. You live in your country but in camps. I would love to go back to Palestine because here in Lebanon we don't feel like people. We don't find work here, if we find it, they give us little money. My father died and we live with my mother. We need good work to live. I thank you so much for your letter. I'm from Haifa in Palestine. Wish to see you in Palestine.

your friend Usama (Shatila)

Hello,

It's nice to send these words for all of the children in Shatila camp. I'm 12 years old. I suffer a lot from the occupation, all these years from 1948 until now. But I'm patient to the end.

Karmel al-'Azza (Deheishe)

Dear Karmel al-'Azza

My name is Itaf Balqis. I am thirteen years old. I have three brothers, but no sisters. I'm in the seventh grade. I go to Haifa school in Shatila camp where I live with my family. My father died in the camp war, we live with my mother. My hobby is reading. I come from Kabra, Akka province in Palestine. We are all waiting to go back to Palestine to see al-Kabra, the village of our grandfathers. Tell me about Palestine, we don't know about it so much here.

bye bye,
Itaf Balqis (Shatila)

Hello my friend Iman,

My name is Hassan al-Issa. I'm 14 years old. I'm very happy for having this chance of having a friend in Palestine. I love to go back to Palestine because the Lebanese don't like us here. They don't want the Palestinians in Lebanon. I'm from Nahefin in Palestine. I have 6 brothers and 6 sisters. I'm in the third intermediate class. I hope that you write me back. I will be waiting for your letter. Thank you so much. Goodbye and good luck.

your friend
Hassan al-Issa (Shatila)