KHAVA'S STORY

Seventy-two year-old Khava Gazhaeva is from Alkhan-Kala village, Chechnya

"My day begins early in the morning when I do the morning prayer. I usually spend my day in traditional domestic cares, such as washing, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of the cow.

The basic food of our family consists of soup with cereals and vegetables from our own little garden. As for milk and other products we buy them in our local market where the prices are quite low. The favourite food in our family is fried meat but we do not have it very often. I buy meat products only once a month when receiving my pension. It is too expensive in relation to our income.

We face many difficulties in our everyday life, most of them caused by the war. I still cannot cope with the fact that I lost my son.

Our family house was almost completely destroyed during the war. Nobody works in our family as there are no jobs. My daughters and I receive some allowances but they are hardly enough to feed five people.

Being in Ingushetia we heard that Islamic Relief is helping the deprived and vulnerable people. Islamic Relief distributes food parcels and meat on Qurbani and Ramadhan. Frankly speaking this aid was a true rescue for me and my grandchildren. We receive the parcels every year and it has become a real support for my family.

My family consisted of six people: me, my son, my two daughters and two grandchildren. But in 1999 my son Khasan disappeared without any trace. Since then we’ve heard nothing about him.

The primary and single income is my pension and the humanitarian aid of Islamic Relief. I can’t work because of my age though I try to search for any temporary job just to feed my children. It is very hard as no one wants to hire a weak old woman.

The situation is getting worse as we have to pay rent for our old flat every month. The flat is very small with only one room. There are no conveniences and water facilities are not available. My poor grandchildren have to bring water from far away as I can’t find money to buy it. Every day I go out early in the morning to try to earn some money to buy bread and milk. I’m so happy that my little children help me in the garden as I feel I am becoming weaker every day.

In spite of the long distance my grandchildren try to attend school every day. I don’t need to force them to go there. They like their school and make visible progress. They have to study at an old shabby school in two shifts. This fact makes me sad but I’m happy that they will be well educated.

I wish to find any job to provide my children with winter clothing. I also want to help them to continue their education.

To receive meat on such a beautiful occasion is really very pleasant. That is why I would like to thank the donors with all my heart for their assistance and sympathy."