11 years digging graves for 50 lira a day
Mustafa Mardini, 11, from Aleppo, who lost his father and two brothers in an army airstrike 7 years ago in Syria, takes care of his family by digging graves in the Bab district, where he migrated.
Mardini lost his father and 2 brothers in Aleppo in 2015 in an attack by the Syrian army.
Rescued from the rubble, Mardini was forced to leave Aleppo with her mother and brother in 2016.
The Mardini family settled in Ezrak Camp in the Bab district, which was cleared of terrorism with Operation Euphrates Shield.
Mustafa Mardini, 11, who was supporting the family alone, could not go to school because he was working.
Mardini, who started the grave-digging business about 3 years ago to care for her mother and sister, works as an adult in a demanding job.
An orphan from Aleppo earns only 40-50 TL per day working all day with picks and shovels.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Mardini said he was rescued from the rubble in the attack that killed his father and two brothers.
Stating that he felt his father’s absence, Mardini said: “We used to go to the park with my father and play. He bought us food and ice cream. I can’t forget those days.” saying.
Stating that they have no one but Mardini, her mother and her brother, she said: “I am doing this job to take care of my family. I work from 6 am to 6 pm. 40-50 TL money comes out per day. She couldn’t go to school because she was expensive. Since we don’t have money, I have to work”. he said.
The boy from Aleppo continued:
“I wish my father (deceased) and my brothers were with me. Like other children, I would like to play and go to the amusement park, but we don’t have enough money. If my father lived, he would be very happy.
Mother Um Mustafa also expressed her sadness that her son was unable to go to school.
Emphasizing that they had to leave their homes due to army attacks in Aleppo, Um Mustafa said:
“I wish Mustafa have a better life. I want him to go to school like the other children. Life is very difficult, we have no one but Allah and Mustafa. Mustafa is like the father of our family now. He has the burden of the house, we have no one else but him.” (AA)