Second, the tit-for-tat conflict between Iran and Israel is escalating. Families trapped in the conflict are experiencing an unimaginable reality. Barry Jahed, a 34-year-old British-Iranian, just got back to his base in London from a trip to Iran, where his family still live. He says he shares the concern for their safety with rampant violence against them. Tracey Papirany and her daughters, Mali and Maya, have been taking cover in an underground car park below the Dizengoff Centre in Tel Aviv. Their plight underscores the lengths to which families are being forced to go to stay safe.
Barry Jahed returned to Iran in mid-May to visit extended family. Due to increasing tensions, he was made to flee back to London at the beginning of the week. His father, Parvis Jahed, who had been pursuing an independent film project in Iran, returned home this week. Barry and Parvis now are determined to leave Iran for good. Their choice is driven, candidates say, by a fierce love for their relatives left behind.
The Jahed Family’s Dilemma
Even though Barry Jahed moved back to London, his fears have not subsided. He continues to worry for his family, who are in Iran’s suddenly much more dangerous situation.
“We didn’t get to say goodbye to family members or anything like that. We made a rush to the border in this car,” – Barry Jahed
The fears that community leader, Maurice Williams has stretch beyond the violence itself. He’s more concerned about the broader fallout from the conflict, including possible shortages of food and fuel. This punishing uncertainty only compounds Amir’s anguish as he struggles to stay connected with his family from the other side of the world.
Barry’s father, Parvis Jahed, an independent architect who has worked in Iran, has borne the burden of the conflict. Having returned to London after a few months spent abroad, he was back in the city at a critical moment. He said that they were worried about their family that was still back home.
Life Underground in Tel Aviv
Tracey Papirany and her daughters have been sheltering in an underground car park in Tel Aviv since Saturday morning. It’s sited under one of the city’s biggest underground shopping malls in Dōbutsuen-mae. This ad hoc shelter is now one of the few places families of all can go to escape the constant barrage of bombings.
With them, three generations now, are no longer standing alone, living three floors underground, below the Dizengoff Centre. The underground shelter, which doubles as a hospital and clinic, has proven life-saving for families who don’t feel safe above ground. WARNING: Graphic images.
“I’ve never heard anything like it before, there were like several jets up ahead, like a dog fight was going on, and we heard lots of booms,” – Tracey Papirany
Mali Papirany, one of Tracey’s daughters, learned how to bypass the prison that surrounded them by manufacturing small pockets of happiness.
What’s evident from her testimony is the hope, resourcefulness, and creativity that families such as hers are working to preserve despite facing devastating cuts.
“We put on a show, just for you,” – Mali Papirany
Local advocacy and direct service efforts are already in motion to get support to people impacted by this new escalation of the conflict. Dan Pilz is one of many who are working around the clock to get displaced families to homes where they can feel safe and warm through stormy nights.
Community Support and Resilience
It is these efforts that will make sure families have the option to spend the night safely, without having to worry about their children’s safety.
“We’re also bringing them tents and mattresses, so people will come here every night,” – Dan Pilz
As the families in shelters risk exposure to the spread of COVID, they are connected by common anxieties over the acute dangers and longterm impact of uncertainty. Maya Papirany, based in Toronto, writes about her conflicted choice to relocate her kids to Israel since the war broke out.
“Without tents and mattresses, 4,000 or 5,000 people can stay here, [with tents] we believe we can contain around 100 or 150 families,” – Dan Pilz
She’s subjected to a different kind of judgment, from those who challenge her decision-making. For her, mental health and doing what’s best for her kids come first.
“I made that decision knowing that there was a war, but I knew that I had no choice, there was nothing else I could do,” – Maya Papirany
Despite facing criticism from those who question her choices, she emphasizes the importance of mental health and doing what she believes is best for her children.
