A Day in the Life of a Syrian Refugee in Iraq

A Day in the Life of a Syrian Refugee in Iraq

OMTIMES  SPECIAL REPORT

By Liane Buck

All of us have been hearing about the Syrian refugee crisis that is happening right now in the Middle East. The “Syrian Emergency” has overwhelmed many of the Geopolitics of Europe and Syria’s neighboring countries. We are not interested in engaging in the politics of the issues, not we have any intention to bring controversy about the acceptance of Refugees in the United States. We intend to bring about a focused view on the day in the life of a family of Human beings, just like you and I, that are dealing with unprecedented violence, discrimination, and hardship. According to the United Nations, we have more than 43 million people worldwide are now forcibly displaced as a result of conflict and persecution. More than 15 million of the uprooted are refugees who fled their home countries while another 27 million are people who remain displaced by conflict within their own homelands — so-called ‘internally displaced people.’ We want to tell you a story today, a story about a Syrian Family now living in Iraq.

This is the story of Ahmad Kalaf.  See Omar Story here

I met Ahmad about a Year ago when he contacted me through email asking for help for his brother, Omar. Omar is an artist and found his talent trying to express, in pictures of a war that have devastated the lives of many Syrians. At the time, we created an article publicizing Omar and his art, you can find it here. Ever since, Omar found an opportunity to flee on foot and by Divine Grace, he reached Austria alone. He was obligated to leave his brother Ahmad, and his family behind. Today Ahmad and his family live in fear. Staying behind and trying to live in an area devastated by war is not an easy task. Ahmad lives in Kurd Iraq, along with a small community of Christians.

We asked Ahmad to give us an interview, with the intent to bring awareness about the situation of millions of Syrians that cannot afford the high prices of fleeing the war zone, and embark on the dangerous route to uncertainty through Europe.

OMTIMES: Ahmad, where did you live before the conflict in Syria turned to be this War devastation?