Syrian boy reunited with family in UK after months in refugee camp
An 11-year-old boy was reunited with his family in the UK after being stranded for nine months in a refugee camp in Greece.
Fawaz Almahmoud was hugged by crying aunts, cheering uncles and smiling cousins after arriving in Britain.
Fawaz was born in Raqqa, Syria, and when his family fled the war-torn city last year he was separated from his parents on the border with Turkey as they all tried to avoid gunfire.
Somehow, he managed to cross Turkey and reach Greece, where he was put in a camp.
His family, working with the charity Goodwill Caravan – which says there are hundreds more like him still in refugee camps – has been involved in a lengthy fight to gain him entry to Britain.
“I feel true sadness for all these kids. I wish I could be a mum to all of them because I know how difficult it must be for a child not having a mum,” his aunt, Zarifa Almahmoud, said.
For a long time, Liverpool- supporting Fawaz thought his family were dead because they were unable to find each other.
The boy told ITV News, which first reported his story, that he was attacked in the camp and endured days without food.
But both his family and Goodwill Caravan are angry at the time it is taking to reunite refugee children.
“The Greek government are overwhelmed. However, unfortunately, these children are paying the price with changes in asylum law and long waiting times. Add to that the pandemic [and] they’re waiting a year to 18 months to be reunited with family,” said Hanan Ashegh, the founder of Goodwill Caravan.
“And they’re at risk in the meantime while alone. We would like the British government to do more, for the Home Office to push the authorities in Greece with dates and more specific deadlines to know when these unaccompanied children can come over.”
A group of 75 British MPs has appealed for the UK’s Home Office to address the “urgent situation faced by child refugees in Greece”.
A Home Office representative said: “The UK has always provided sanctuary for those fleeing persecution, oppression or tyranny and does more to support unaccompanied children than any EU member state.”