Salwa El Cheikh Mohammad

My name is Salwa. I was a lively young girl and always willing to help. At the end of a school day, I would head home – I was the eldest of my eight siblings – to complete all my duties as the eldest sister. Afterwards, I would join the Palestinian Red Crescent volunteers to give them a helping hand.

As a 16-year-old, my life and dreams were similar to that of any other young girl at that time.

But in spring of 1976, as we were anticipating the long-awaited vacation season, my neighborhood became a ferocious battlefield.

The siege on Tel el Zaatar had just began, making my family and many other civilians hostages in their own homes. The battle went on for fifty four days, causing hundreds of victims. The ICRC was there attempting to evacuate the wounded.

But on August 12th 1976, on the day of the fall of the camp, thousands of civilians who were left behind were trying to escape. And just like me, many others did not reach their planned destination.

I am one of the many women who have disappeared during the war and whose fate is still unknown.

Zakiye, Samira, Marie-Christine, Kariman, Henriette… disappeared in Tel el Zaatar, Saida, West Beirut, Damour, Aley, Tripoli…

Whatever the reason for our disappearance and whoever committed these acts, do not let our story be forgotten. Do not let our story end here.