“They wake up at nights, sometimes screaming…”

Author: Seymur Kazımov

As a result of the Armenian army’s shelling of Ganja on October 17, three children were killed, and the fourth one died of his injuries on October 23. In addition, there are people with various injuries . Now they have settled with their families in Azerbaijan State Agrarian University student dormitory.

Although families are satisfied with the situation, they are worried about the psychological condition of their children.

“My daughter was shocked for the first time on October 4, when the first bomb was dropped on Ganja. She was trembling in my arms. My two-years-old son says, “Mom, bomb,” when he hears a loud bang. They wake up at night and sometimes shout.” said Ilaha Hamzayeva.

After their neighborhood was shelled October 17, Ilaha was able to evict her two children immediately, and her daughter, Ayan, disappeared in the dust. “During the explosion, the plaster of the wall and broken glass spilled on my daughter’s bed. I nearly lost my mind tring to find her. We were very scared. We still do not sleep until five o’clock in the morning.” said I. Hamzayeva.

Azad Jafarov’s daughter’s name is also Ayan. She is 5 years old. His whole family was at home that night:

“My daughter was asleep, and after the explosion she was covered in dust. It was very difficult to find and pull her out of all the rubble. I immediately took her to the hospital, her mouth was full of dirt, they got it all out by forcing her to vomit and she got better. My six-year-old daughter, Reyhan, had a glass cut around her eyes. They are still very afraid and sleep very badly.”

Huseyn Alakbarli also suffered head injuries after the incident:
“As soon as I heard the first explosion, I called my family. I wanted to go outside and look around when the second bomb hit our house. I was hit on the head with a piece of iron, my father took me to the hospital. I had to undergo an operation. I’m fine now and the pain is slowly subsiding.”

Aytekin Jafarova’s daughter Rugaya is in first grade:

“I heard a terrible noise, the roof collapsed, bricks fell on me. I woke up, looked for the children, but could not find them. It was dusty and foggy, the lights were out… I couldn’t see anything. Meanwhile, my brother said that he evacuated the children through the windows. I found them both on the street.”

Ms. Aytekin says both children were in deep shock. Even now they do not sleep well and have no appetite. “They ask; mother, will it happen again?”

Sahil and Miryusif Gurbanzade were staying in the student dormitory.

Miryusif says he was awake at the time of explosion but his brother was asleep.

“I was also going to sleep when suddenly a rocket came down, hit the ground. Next thing, our mirrors were broken. The ceiling in my brother’s bedroom had also collapsed. Thank God, he did not get injured.”

Rector of the Azerbaijan State Agrarian University Ibrahim Jafarov said that psychologists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations visited the dormitory and met with families and children. Ganja Health Department was asked to send its own psychologists too.