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| Thair Orfahli |
Thair
Orfahli, a refugee from Syria, has faced a horrific ordeal. From the
heartland of conflict torn Syria, right up to finding a space in Germany as he
waits for the declaration on his application for asylum, Thair has gone through
a difficult series of events. In a world that often tends to see refugees
either as "people in need" or as "vulnerable people", and
not as friends, Thair’s story is a reminder of how valuable perceptions
are in fostering peace. It is exceptionally important to break these illusive
social stratifications that separate the privileged and the unfortunate.
Thair’s story is a beautiful example of how when you make friends and empathise
with the other, this happens immediately. Here’s his story, in his own words.
My
story begins in Damascus, where I met Sara.
I was 19 and had just finished high school; she was 24 and was doing a summer
school on International Politics at the Arab International University organized
by her university, the Free University Berlin. We had the best time ever; we were
always laughing and looking for the next adventure. We have spent every day
together during her program in Syria. We went to visit all historical sites in
the old city and in Bosra. When I think about Palmyra I want to cry. I cannot
believe the temple of Baal Shamin is now gone forever. Sara became like a
sister to me and we stayed in touch over the years… I can’t believe my country
has entered its 5th year of war. My dream is for the conflict to be over and be
back soon in Damascus, the city of jasmine, with my family and friends.
In September
2009, I started attending law school in Beirut, Lebanon. I kept going back and
forth between Beirut and Damascus like most other students and workers who came
to Lebanon from Damascus. It was the easiest and most common commute ever. By
July 2012, Syria began to full up with tension and fighting. Thousands of
people have been killed and injured, and millions have been displaced. In this
time, countless homes, hospitals and schools were either damaged or destroyed. It was no longer safe, and I had no choice
but to leave for good. I took a shared car one night to Lebanon. In three
hours, I reached Beirut.
By
September 2012, the situation in Lebanon worsened, and became very dangerous –
there was a massive influx of refugees from Syria, and my mother encouraged me
to go to Egypt so that I could complete my studies. I moved as she said, and was
able to continue my studies in law. I had found a room in a shared apartment
with other Syrian refugees. Meanwhile, Sara was working in Egypt, and together with
many other friends, we supported refugee families and communities from
different countries through a solidarity organization called the Sina Network.
In
November 2014, after I had spent two years in Egypt, I graduated from the Faculty
of Law of the University of Alexandria and tried to obtain authorization to
work as a lawyer in Egypt. According to Egyptian law, I needed to have a permit
from the Arab Lawyers’ Syndicate of my country of origin, Syria! They wanted me
to travel back to Damascus, in the midst of war, just for a piece of paper! In
addition to that, sadly, my passport was stolen and that made things very
difficult for me. The Syrian Embassy refused to issue me another one. They said
that they would only give me a travel document that would allow me to travel
back to Syria in order to serve in the Syrian Army and put my life in danger. Without
any hope of getting a job and at the serious risk of being detained or sent
back to Syria, I had no other choice but to flee once again. This time, I had
to go to Europe.
On
May 18 2015, in great despair like several other refugees, I paid a smuggler US$2,000
for the very expensive crossing from Alexandria to Sicily, Southern Italy. The
news spoke about these boats sinking without any survivors and all my friends
were telling me not to go, but I knew within that I simply had to try to reach
the other shore of the Mediterranean Sea so that I had a chance to build a new
life. Maybe I was making the wrong choice… I said bye to everyone, I left my
computer and my belongings with my dear friend Jakob and I told him that had I not
arrived, he should have given everything to my family. I then took on a little
food and water, and a life vest and I was ready to go.
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| Thair with Sarah and members from the refugee community (c) UNOCHA / #ShareHumanity |
Four
days later, we were packed like sardines – about 100 of us, and we were hidden
in the back of a truck to reach the dock. It was dark, hot and we were all very
anxious. We had to swim a bit to reach the boat. As we got further away from
Egypt and we reached international waters, more people would arrive in smaller
boats coming from Libya. It was very cold at night, and we had run out of food
and water. The waves were 3 meters high and our boats, which were tied
together, would be pulled apart and crash back together. I’ve never been so
afraid. Many of us became sick, especially the children. I remember there was
one little girl from Somalia who could not stop crying. I had run out of medicine
but I told her I would give her some, instead I gave her honey and I held her
in my arms. After a bit she stopped crying and felt better. I will never forget
her scared eyes… We were on this
tiny, crammed boat for ten days... 234 of us from Sudan,
Eritrea, Somalia, Syria and Iraq. Each story is more touching than the next. The strength
they were showing was unbelievable.
After
spending 10 days at sea, on May 28, 2015, the Italian Coast Guard rescued our
boat. They saved us. We could not believe it! We had NO passport, NO money, NO
clothes, nothing! But we were alive! In 2015 alone, over 300,000 people crossed
the Mediterranean Sea to reach safety in Europe. 2,500 people of them died
trying crossing this sea. If it costs 300 US dollars for a flight to Europe
from North Africa, why are refugees being forced to board very unsafe boats and
risk their lives for 2000 dollars?
I
was overjoyed when I reached. I had messages from my loved ones and it made me
feel so grateful to life. We were very well-received in Sicily, but it was not
our final destination. Pretty soon, we were pushed to Northern Italy – it was
dangerous, of course, but we knew that we could make it. On May 30, 2015, I was
welcomed by wonderful Italian volunteers at the Milano Central Station, joining
thousands of refugees sleeping in the train station and other overcrowded
facilities. I could only stay for five nights
at the Refugees’ Centre in the city and after that, I nowhere to go. And so, on
June 4, Sara’s family welcome me at the train station of their town Modena,
where I spent a few weeks with wonderful people that became like my second
family.
It
soon came to light that Italy was suffering a severe economic crisis. So,
Northern Europe, with its higher employment rates and strong social systems became
my final destination, and the one of many others. It was hard to say goodbye to
Italy and all my new friends, but I had to move on. Britain was my first
choice, because my mother is a British Overseas Citizen, but reaching England
from France is extremely dangerous. Each night, to cross to the UK, many people
attempt to rush over barricades blocking the entrance to the Eurotunnel,
through which cars, trucks and the Eurostar Bullet Train travel. They try to
either walk through it or board trucks and freight trains, risking being struck
by them. Therefore, my friends suggested Germany instead. Soon enough,
I was on the road again.
June
20, 2015 marked the International Day of the Refugees. Ironically enough, I embarked
on what
would be the final leg of my long journey by crossing the Austrian and
then, the German border. Since the authorities were controlling everyone on
trains and buses that cross these borders, I had to travel by car to avoid
being caught and sent back to Italy. The trip was long and dangerous trip but
in the night I finally arrived in Munich. Sara and Jakob were waiting for me
there. That was the best and most joyful moment of my journey. I could not
believe my eyes. Together we started to discuss how my future in Germany would
look. I approached Berlin, and I applied for political asylum. I was very
grateful to Germany. But, for me, the UK still remains my home away from home..
My grandfather was British, my mother is a British Overseas Citizen. She had
not seen me in 4 long years and her biggest hope is to be reunited with me in
the UK! However, at the moment, there are no legal avenues for reaching the
UK..
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| Thair, playing cards with other refugees on their boat |
I
am now in the city of Bielefeld where I am waiting a court hearing on his asylum
petition. Insh’allah it will happen! Though I have a law degree, I do not speak
German (I am learning, though!). I am still without money or a passport. I must
navigate an immigration system that is complicated. My fellow refugees and I are
placed in a mass housing space that is far outside the main cities, and that makes
it really hard for us to integrate in the German society… but I remain
positive!
I couldn’t have made it through this journey
without my friends, especially Sara and Jakob. They would never say to me, "What can I give
you?" or “What do you need?” Instead, they would say to me, “Let’s do
this, let’s go there together!” I really believe that in life, only two things
define you: your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have
everything. If everyone in the world could extend such a helping hand across
borders, colours, nationalities and religions, just to one more refugee, we can
find ourselves in a much happier place.
Thair Orfahli is the symbol of resilience. At this point in the world, there are many
conflicts around – and there is a burgeoning number of refugees even as you
read this. As a global community of humans, we need to empathise with them and understand
the fact that they had no choice but to flee because just overnight,
their houses were bombed and they were caught in the middle of war,
violence and persecution. It's not their fault that such things happened to
them. Even when they find safety in our countries and apply for asylum, they’re
still faced with the question of how to live with dignity and purpose, like the
rest of us! As long as refugees are seen, treated and considered a burden, they
will always be the unfortunate targets of racism, discrimination and horrific
violence. Even as policy remains where it is, a massive force of volunteers,
such as those at the France-UK Border in Calais and at the
Italian-French border in Ventimiglia help migrants find safe, empty buildings
to live in, while also those that visit detainees in immigration prisons and form
support groups in Italy and Greece to help new arrivals. Solidarity exists
every day – but it is time to build on it and create a sustainable future. We
need to grow to become citizens of the world – and redefine our ideas of legal
and illegal.
Follow Up:
Thair’s Story was made into a video by the UNOCHA
for the campaign #ShareHumanity
Find Thair on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thair.orfahli
Find Thair on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thairdamascus