Rebar shines light on Kurdish women's role in 1991 exodus
"What we suffered during the mass exodus has reminded us in our heart of what our parents suffered. Now, this event has shown us mercy to help other affected people, especially those who fled the Daesh war," he told Rudaw on Monday.
The Kurdistan Region hosted more than 1.8 million IDPs and Syrian refugees through the Islamic State (ISIS) conflict.
"When we extended a helping hand to them, we knew how exhausted they were and suffering," Ibrahim explained.
Rebar reminisced about the tragedy and the sacrifices of his mother, like many other women, while pouring over photos and videos of the 1991 events with his father Haji Ibrahim.
Rebar was malnourished 28 years ago, but is now healthy.
"Thank God. Rebar survived this catastrophe. Thank God, he now is a college graduate and has his own business. What I suffered was no less than what other people endured at the time. Many froze, starved to death," said his father Haji Ibrahim.
Rebar, now 31, has made it his objective to assist people in need. In addition to working at his stationary shop, he is also a journalist
The mass exodus in Duhok started on March 27, 1991, until April 1. It followed the United States encouraging Kurds and Shiite Arabs to rise up against the Baath regime of Saddam Hussein.
The Americans opted to abandon the plan, leaving the Kurds and Shiites facing retaliations by the Baath-party supporters including bombings, food embargoes, and expulsion.
"The people of Kurdistan fled to neighboring countries by the thousands to survive and protect their lives. They fled death from the [Baath] military to a death of hunger and thirst," said Rebar.
Rebar's mother passed away in 2004. He often visits her tomb.
"Mothers played a major role to ensure that nothing would happen to their children, though they were suffering from many plights and pains of their own," he said.
Like many women, she had held Rebar in her arms throughout the horrendous journey of more than 1 million Kurds to flee the brutal return of the Baath regime.
"May you rest in peace," he says over the grave of his mother.
Reporting by Mehdi Faraj
