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2000s: One man’s struggle to flee Syria for the UK
2000s: One man’s struggle to flee Syria for the UK
Nuri is a beekeeper; his wife, Afra, an artist. They live a simple life, rich in family and friends, in the beautiful Syrian city of Aleppo – until the unthinkable happens. When all they care for is destroyed by war, they are forced to escape. But what Afra has seen is so terrible she has gone blind, and so they must embark on a perilous journey through Turkey and Greece towards an uncertain future in Britain. On the way, Nuri is sustained by the knowledge that waiting for them is Mustafa, his cousin and business partner, who has started an apiary and is teaching fellow refugees in Yorkshire to keep bees.
As Nuri and Afra travel through a broken world, they must confront not only the pain of their own unspeakable loss, but dangers that would overwhelm the bravest of souls. Above all – and perhaps this is the hardest thing they face – they must journey to find each other again.
Nuri and Afra live in Syria and have a lovely normal life until war breaks out. Nuri is a beekeeper, Afra an artist, and they live with their son Sami in the east of the city. Bombs rain down on the city and tragedy strikes as their young son is killed in one of the raids.
They have no choice but to escape the country and follow their friends and leave the country. From from war-torn Aleppo, through Turkey and Greece, they eventually make it to London where they claim asylum. This is the story of their journey across country after country with a very insightful account of life for refugees in Greece (the author apparently volunteered with refugees here)
Destination: Aleppo, Turkey, Greece, London Author/guide: Christy Lefteri Departure Time: 2000s
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