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CNN Live At Daybreak

Two Palestinian Teenagers Stranded in San Francisco

Aired April 03, 2002 - 06:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The war in the Palestinian territories is preventing two Palestinian girls from getting home to their refugee camp in Bethlehem. We've got details from reporter Linda Yee of CNN San Francisco affiliate KRON.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LINDA YEE, REPORTER KRON (voice-over): The fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinians continues to rage in Bethlehem. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat remains trapped in his compound in Ramallah. And watching thousands of miles away from home, 15-year-old Sanabel Alfarage and 16-year-old Kayan Alsaify. Palestinian teenagers, they know only of life in a refugee camp in Bethlehem. They became stranded in San Francisco because of the war and it frightens them.

KAYAN ALSAIFY, PALESTINIAN TEENAGER (through translator): My heart and my mind is completely in Palestine in the Dheisheh refugee camp with my family, with my friends. I am constantly worried. I jump from the TV stations, the TV news to the Internet to the telephone, and constantly in touch with them.

SANABEL ALFARAGE, PALESTINIAN TEENAGER (through translator): I'm sad, I am angry and I am scared. All three -- all three emotions are happening in side of me. I am scared for my family, I'm scared for the children in the camp that might get injured and might get hurt or might get killed.

YEE: Kayan and Sanabel were in the United States to attend the Academy Awards. They were the subjects of a nominated documentary called "Promises." It followed the lives of Palestinian and Jewish children over a period of five years. Children who have lived and seen war all their lives, seen their fathers deported or jailed.

ALSAIFY (through translator): Our life in the camp is really depressing, from the day to day things like water, electricity, telephone lines that gets cut off on a regular basis. The tanks are outside our camp.

YEE: Both condemn the suicide bombings that triggered the invasion into their homes. But both also believe that terrorism is caused by both sides.

ALFARAGE (through translator): I do not believe that the suicide bombings in themselves are a solution. But you have to understand that the driving force for these kinds of operations is the despair.

YEE: They are 16 and 15 years old. Children who have seen a lifetime of violence, but still young enough to have hope.

In San Francisco, Linda Yee, KRON 4 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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