A SYRIAN refugee family now living in East Hampshire say they fled their homeland in fear of their lives.
Fahim (55) and his wife Atefeh (38) arrived here last April after escaping with their children Fatima (18), Azim (17), Malika (15) and Iesha (12).
Fahim ran a successful business in the Syrian city of Homs until war broke out in 2011.
He said: “We had a lovely home, a good car and I worked hard for my family. We lived a comfortable and happy life.
“Then we lost our money, our car, our home, everything. We moved to a small flat, but it wasn’t safe, very dangerous for the children.
“It was a very hard decision to leave, but I knew we had to before we lost one of our family.”
Atefah added: “There was news of kidnapping and I feared our children would be targets. It was very scary times. I don’t like to remember them.”
Fahim continued: “Everywhere there were weapons and stories of kidnappings. Nowhere felt safe. Once a military plane dropped a bomb very close to me and seriously injured my arm.”
Finally they found a safe house, but with supplies running out, Fahim and his son Azim went to look for food – only for the 12-year-old to be threatened with arrest.
Fahim said: “I felt if we didn’t leave soon, I would lose something much more precious – one of my family. We didn’t want to leave, but realised we had no option.”
So began a desperate flight into Jordon; in Spring 2012 they made it to a refugee camp, but with just their meagre savings to live on.
The children started school, but Azim was bullied and left to take a low paid job to help the family survive.
Fahim said: “It was difficult, we felt unsupported, our landlord could kick us out at any time.”
So they turned to the United Nations (UN) for help, getting a small sum of money every week to help with food and rent.
And they learned they were eligible for the UK’s Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme.
Atefeh said: “We said yes straight away. It was not a difficult decision.”
She added: “We were very happy when we were told we could go to the UK. "To us it represented freedom."
Fahim said: “We are very happy to be here, we feel very welcome. There have been no difficulties in comparison to what we have gone through.
“We do not feel lonely. We do not feel like strangers.
“The most important thing is that the children continue their education.
“We’ve worked hard all our lives to give the children a good education, we’re glad they have that opportunity here where we are all safe.
“They are so happy now, and have made lots of friends and are already very good at English – they all have such bright futures.
“My wife and I continue our English classes and extra ones with the Rural Refugee Network – I’d like to thank them for their great help.
“We are trying hard to learn English but it is not easy – but we will get better.
“The Red Cross has been very helpful.
“When we need anything or have any questions we know the Red Cross will be there to help.
“Everything about the Red Cross has been excellent. The caseworkers have given us safety and support physically, mentally and financially. We are very grateful.
“Our hope for our future is focused on our children, to see them finish their schooling and university and I would like to find a job that fits with my injured arm.
“I’d like to thank the Queen, the government, Hampshire County Council, the Red Cross and everyone who has helped us and supported us here.”
Petersfield-based Rural Refugee Network (RRN) has been helping refugee families and lone Syrian children settle in the district.
Joint founder Julia Waugh-Thistelton, of Langrish, said: “We had a great response from landlords offering properties for Syrian refugees, allowing us to help welcome families. Some of the refugee women have been making a quilt as part of a group RRN has set up to help them learn new skills, and it will be sold at our art sale on Thursday, May 18, at Bordean House.”
For details, e-mail hello@ruralrefugeenetwork
Red Cross?caseworker Sarogeny Ismael from Hampshire met Fahim and his family when they arrived in the UK and accompanied them to their new home. The refugee family was also supported by the Red Cross with issues such as accessing the JobCentre, dentists and doctors and setting up bank accounts and utility services. The charity is providing ongoing support, including English classes.
HAMPSHIRE County Council has been praised by refugees new to the county, and partner agencies such as the Petersfield’s Rural Refugee Network, for its work helping people fleeing from war-torn Syria. The council pledged to help refugee families and lone children moving into the county. Also helping are local authorities including East Hampshire District Council