'My son dreams of flames'

2003-05-16 08:14

Erika Gibson

Johannesburg - "I want to sit and cry - I have to cry, because until now there hasn't been time."

Dr Mireilla Olivier, 32, who survived this week's bomb attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said on arrival in Johannesburg with her family that they have hardly had time to sleep or think about the attacks.

"Riyad was our home and where we lived. Now we don't have a home any more, but we are alive. That's why we are more privileged than our friends who died in the attacks."

She said she and her husband, Gerrit, wanted to flee Saudi Arabia with their children as soon as possible after the attacks.

"We were worried about our safety for the first time. Before the attacks I was never as scared, but the lives of my children are much more precious than all the money we earned in Riaydh.

"The time we spent in Saudi Arabia was very special. Our son, Gert-Nicholas, 3, was born there and it makes it extra special. The worst thing is that we probably won't see our friend again. In the chaos after the attacks, we couldn't say goodbye to many of them and others died [in the attacks].

"Our Palestinian neighbour also died. Our daughter, Marié, 4, consoled his daughter at the airport just before we left, because she kept crying about her father.

"Our other Jordanian neighbour's children were burnt and his face has been mutilated.

"One chapter in our lives has now closed. It's just such a shock that it ended so suddenly and in such chaotic circumstances.

"The children talk about the attack a lot. My son says he dreams of flames, loud noises and cracking walls.

"We are leaving them to deal with the attack in their own way."

The Oliviers lost all their possessions and have to start from scratch. Olivier is a doctor and her husband an industrial engineer. They had been living in Riyadh for five years.

"A month ago we considered staying in Saudi Arabia until the end of the year, because we had a simple, good life as a young family.

"Now we will just have to wait and see. At the moment we want to sit back and assess everything. We are young and healthy...we can start somewhere else, maybe in Canada or Australia," Olivier said.

"One realises again how important your family and children are. We weren't victims of the attack, because we are alive.

"We dare not lose hope for the future because we have small children. We also cannot mistrust others, because we are all responsible for working towards a better future."

- Beeld