Hard to leave home: One families journey to Incirlik

  • Published
  • By Lori Burling Alves
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  As a humanitarian, Daniela Dsouza made one of the hardest decisions of her life when she boarded a U.S. Naval ship to leave her  home in grief-stricken Lebanon. 

"It was a very hard decision for me to leave," said Mrs. Dsouza. "This is a time when I feel I'm really needed in Beruit. These people have no homes, no food and no water. I
felt like I was needed and could help. But I had to think of my husband and children. It may not get any worse, but it could. I just don't know." 

Mrs. Dsouza has lived just outside Beruit for more than a year working for a non-profit agency that aids local hospitals and orphanages. On Sunday, she made the decision to flee the country  with her two children, Allan, 6, and Christy, 4. They left Beruit aboard
a naval ship en route to Mersin, Turkey, with only necessities packed. The three arrived at Incirlik Air Base Monday. Her husband, Jonathan -- a native of New Zealand -- found his way to Britain because he is not a U.S. citizen.

"I hated that he could not travel with us, but I understand. I was able to talk to my mother and he had called her and told her he was safe," she said. "He got out faster than us simply because there are more of us." 

Mrs. Dsouza's mother remains in Beruit helping the Lebanese. Both her and her mother have spent years helping in countries of unrest, including Iraq, Palestine and Jordan. 

"I understand why she stayed. There is a lot we can do for them, and she wasn't ready to leave," she said. "The area we actually live in had not been bombed so she was going to wait a little longer. The people are so desperate for us right now." 

On their journey to Turkey, Mrs. Dsouza and her children shared a cot on the ship because it was so packed with Lebanese-Americans. 

She said the service members were kind and helpful, but quarters were tight. Her family had to stay outside in the sun rather than in a covered area. 

"It was so hot. There was no shade. I wish I had packed like we were going to the beach. We needed sun block," she said. "But it turned out okay. The kids thought it was neat to be on a boat. They think they're on holiday (vacation)." 

Allan and Christy's cheeks were rosy from the sun, but seemed in good spirits. The two drew pictures while waiting in an airplane hangar to be moved to Patriot Village, the area on base where they will stay until they depart for the United States. 

"The cot was quite squishy but I went to sleep," Allan said wearing his fisherman's hat. "The boat was neat. I got a light. It was fun and there were lots of people. [Each family received a glow stick  as they boarded the ship, according to Dsouza]." 

Dsouza said her children have been surprisingly well throughout their travels. They even enjoyed the MREs (meals ready to eat) they received at Incirlik. 

"It's tough getting them down at first, but it's food. Now that I know how to heat them up, they're a little better," she said. 

Dsouza and her family plan to make their way to Orlando, Fla., and stay with family and friends until conditions in Lebanon improve. Throughout this ordeal, she said the hardest thing was leaving the Lebanese people behind. 

"The Lebanese people were begging us to take them with us. I felt so sorry that there was nothing I could do for them. And I felt sorry for the people manning the ship. It was emotionally traumatic listening to them reject people over and over because they
weren't U.S. citizens. These people were fearing for their lives, and there was nothing I could do," she said. "But I'm confident we'll be able to return to our home soon. And then maybe I can do something to help."