THE Newport mother of two who fled battle-torn Palestine with her family has given up hope of returning to her Bethlehem home.

Sarah Awad, 32, and her Palestinian Christian husband, Sami, will instead remain in Wales to continue their charitable work with the disabled.

The couple, who ran a school for disabled children in Bethlehem, fled in April last year when the city was still under siege by Israeli troops.

They brought their 14-month-old son, Nathan, through Jordan back to Britain and moved in with Sarah's parents in Abercarn.

Their five-year-old son, Naseem, had already been brought to Wales by his grandfather, John Gibby, because they feared the youngster was being severely traumatised by the constant conflict.

Now the family have moved to Gowerton, Swansea, so that Sarah and Sami can carry on their work with the disabled.

She said: "It's been quite a transitional period for us.

"Settling back in, getting my husband a National Insurance number, getting a joint bank account has all been difficult.

"We're looking after adults now at a charity called Prospects Causeway. They supported us in Bethlehem and they were looking into giving us further training - now they've given us jobs."Naseem was sad to leave Abercarn School and it's still a bit of a sensitive subject.

"We're staying here indefinitely at the moment, with the situation in Palestine the way it is."

The couple fear for the family and friends they have left behind in Palestine - especially in the light of US preparations for an assault on Iraq.

Sami, 34, said: "My parents and my two brothers are there with their wives and children. My parents say that it's good my children are not there.

"There is a big fear there among Palestinians and it has been announced by the Israeli Army they will be occupying for a long time.

"I would be willing now to get on the plane and go but the British authorities are saying that they cannot give us protection."

Sarah added: "If it was just my husband and me we would be back there, but with the children it's better that we have them here.

"But obviously our hearts are still over there."

* In the picture: Sarah Awad, 32, with husband Sami and youngest son Nathan.