Family Seeks Help For Syrian People

For 2 1/2 years a Swampscott family has rallied and raised money for Syrian people under siege by their own government.

The conviction of Keli and Sam Khatib and their daughter Cenna has grown in the aftermath of reports that the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad waged a deadly chemical attack against citizens last week.

Now, on the eve of what could be a unilateral U.S. military response against the Assad government, Sam Khatib says military action by the United States is a bitter pill.

But it's one that must be taken to stop the spread of cancerous violence inflicted by the Syrian govenrment, he said.

Keli says she shares outrage felt by the Syrian population, many of them powerless against governmental aggression and wondering why world powers have not stepped in to staunch the violence.

The Khatibs have rallied some 15 times in Boston over the past 30 months in support of the Syrian populace.

Sam is president of the Boston chapter of the Syrian-American Alliance.

Cenna, a 9th grader, has written and read poetry and spoken on behalf of a free Syria.

The Khatibs are in touch with family in Syria and follow developments closely through social media and news accounts.

Keli said the situation is dire.

Over 100,000 people are confirmed dead and there are 200,000 who have disappeared, many of them possibly imprisoned, she said.

A million children are refugees out of a total 4.5 million refugees — a quarter of the population, she said.

Keli and her husband and daughter have sought humanitarian aid, and Swampscott has been generous contributing money, clothing, toys and diapers, she said.

The Khatibs are one of a few Syrian families in Swampscott. They are hopeful more people will help Syria, lending emotional support, donating humanitarian aid and writing a congressman urging US government support for a free Syria.

"As a world we have to come together, it is not acceptable for a leader to kill his own people," Keli said.