Stories
Refugees since 2012
2012 – 2013 Aleppo, Syria
War advancing on the city day-by-day.
Barrel bombs dropping on civilians.
The Syrian Family left everything and fled to Turkey.
Their family home in Syria was destroyed.
Leaving Syria - Death all around - Amna and Adeel
With the sound of tanks and cannons everywhere, we slept only for two hours a day. When the army surrounded Aleppo, my wife’s family was in the center of the city and she was in the countryside, with my family, and could not return to her family in downtown Aleppo. As the violent attacks continued, there was screaming everywhere, dead and wounded all around. She could not eat anything, she became very thin, most of the doctors had left the country, the hospitals became out of service, and the fires consumed everything.
A horrible experience that many of us can never imagine in our lives.
Leaving Syria - Fahad
I lived with my family in a village outside of Aleppo, and not far from the border with Turkey. The conflict from the Civil War at that time affected our village. It was not safe to stay because of bombs dropping, rocket attacks and the fighting between the Government forces and the rebel forces. Our home was damaged in the fighting. In 2012 I left with my brother Javed to seek asylum in Turkey. We were joined later by my parents and other siblings. Our home in Syria was later completely destroyed, as well as our neighbours' homes. Our lives in Syria were destroyed
Leaving Syria - Adeel
My wife was expecting a child. The pregnancy was very difficult for a young girl. There was no medicine and no medical care. In our apartment we slept on the floor, in the middle of the room, to be away from the walls should they collapse. Her unborn child was a part of the terrible circumstances of war. After about five months, she was able to walk to the Turkish border with my help and some friends. We walked about 60 km. There was no contact with family or friends at all. We waited on the Syrian-Turkey border for three days. She had the opportunity to enter Turkey, but without me. I was not allowed to leave Syria at that time. I returned to the border later and was able to leave with a large group of about 1500 who left with no interrogations.
Refugees since 2012
2012 – 2021 Turkey
Entire family living together, working any job for cash - construction, sewing shops, plastering, translating, to keep our family fed.
Other families sent children to live with our family in Turkey to escape unbearable lives in Syria.
Adeel , wife and two children selected by UN to come to Canada in 2016.
Remaining family members still live in Turkey as refugees.
Children fleeing Syria - Madiha
My family had not left Syria, but they were worried for my safety, and that played a part in the steps they took to arrange my becoming a refugee in Turkey. In 2017 my father arranged for he and I to travel to the Turkish border by unlicensed taxi. We paid approximately 100USD for the trip. At the border, my father made arrangements with the 'off duty" military personnel who controlled the unofficial crossing. We had to wait three days (two nights) before I could cross the border in to Turkey. Once I crossed the border, I went to the bus station where I was met by a family friend, and he brought me back to the house that the family lives in currently.
Brothers still in Turkey - Fahad, Javed and Bilal
I am registered with the Turkish Authorities as a refugee. I cannot legally work or go to school. I work for cash as a tailor and in construction. We are registered with the local government and we are not allowed to move around freely without permission from the authorities. I live in an urban area in a city. I live in a rented house with my wife and children, my parents, and my brother and my sister.
Adeel and his wife & children leave for Canada in 2016 - Amna
Three years of life in Turkey was not easy or simple either. My husband considered the dangerous plan of leaving Turkey by himself on a small boat, across the Mediterranean, getting to Greece and then to Scandinavia, finding work, and then helping me and the children leave Turkey to join him. Luckily, his mother convinced him to apply to the UN for refugee status, and after a 10 month wait he was accepted and had the choice of the USA or Canada – he chose Canada. We had to get to Istanbul for the flight to Canada. It was a treacherous 17-hour bus ride across Turkey. He sold his computer (he saved everything he could on one memory drive) and used the money to purchase a flight for the family to Istanbul. This saved us with the kids still in diapers the terrible bus ride. While waiting for final arrangements to leave we learned we were ‘sponsored’ by a church near Toronto. During the wait, my wedding ring slipped off my finger and was lost. My phone was also lost during the taxi ride to the airport – and my direct method of family contact was gone, along with all photo memories of loved ones, and all information that was on the phone.
Adeel's family finding happiness in Canada - Adeel
The most exciting and joyful moment of my life is when I landed in Canada. It became my country, and I am very proud to say that. The Canadians are becoming our family and friends. Canada gave us a Golden opportunity to stand up on our feet after we were forced to leave our origin country.
It deserves peace and love.
God bless Canada!
Have been living in Turkey since 2012 & hope to come to Canada - brothers
We are hoping to reunite with our brother in Canada in 2021-2. I really thank you for giving me a time to talk and chat and express my feelings. I’m lost , hopeless and dead. I remember when I walked for 40km to Turkish border and run because of the war in Syria for just asking protect our life. We have been in very very tough situations. No body can imagine the war airplanes how fly and bombe over people. Many and many nights passed and we did not sleep. Blood everywhere! Shreds, limbs are became so popular to be seen!! Forced to leave my school and not finish. My wife until now is suffering from the nightmares , flashbacks!! I don’t know how to explain. I would to speak to everyone to tell everybody to tell God what we have been in!! We are humans as any one has a soul and body and mind. We just need some help to still taking a breath and keep our life going on. Long and long stories, and can be as The series does not end if I can explain my emotions and feelings. Please, please guys just give us Life Potion.
Refugees 2023
- post Earthquake
2023 Gaziantep Turkey, home destroyed
Refugees 2023 - post Earthquake
We all survived the two major quakes.
The first major one - we got outside at the first tremblings and the first floor of out apartment was cracked. We were not allowed to go back in.
The second major quake a few days later brought the whole building down. All was lost. We were able to purchase some old, used tents and set them up in a field in another part of the city.
Syrian Family in Turkey & Canada
Construction projects in Turkey . . . by Fahad, Javed, and Bilal. These pro-quake photos are below.
Adeel's wife and children in Canada . . . click here for Canada Photos