Bashar's Story

When Bashar fled to Germany in 2015, he was only 15 years old. In his hometown Aleppo, he faced the threat of being conscripted into the army or forced to join other militias. Thus, the family spent all their savings to help Bashar flee out of the country and find safety. 

Upon his arrival in Berlin, Bashar applied for asylum with the support of his guardian, Meral, with the hope of eventually bringing his relatives to safety as well. During this time, the situation in Aleppo worsened rapidly. The city became encircled by the Syrian regime, and the family found themselves trapped, unable to leave the city as all humanitarian escape routes were closed off. Over months of siege, Syrian and Russian air forces subjected the city to heavy bombings, resulting in the destruction of numerous homes and essential civilian infrastructure. Bashar's father participated in volunteer rescue missions during this time, assisting victims of the bombings by pulling them out of the rubble. Tragically, during one of these missions in June 2016, he himself became a victim of a bomb attack at the rescue site. The death of Bashar's father and the subsequent loss of their family home due to the bombings had a profound impact on the family, both emotionally and financially.

The grief and the fear for his family have weighed heavily on Bashar's shoulders. His only means of communication with his family has been through phone calls, as he is a conscientious objector and faces imprisonment if he were to return to Syria.

 Despite these challenging circumstances, Bashar managed to build a close-knit circle of friends in Germany, successfully completed his schooling and training to social assistant for nursing care.

At the conclusion of the asylum process, Bashar was granted subsidiary protection status. However, the request for family reunification with his mother and siblings was denied, even though he was still a minor.

The family's current situation in Aleppo remains precarious. The city has endured extensive destruction, and the humanitarian situation remains dire. 
Bashar's two younger brothers have managed to continue their education despite the war. The older one is now pursuing higher education at a university, while the younger one  is finishing high school. Nevertheless, they also face the looming threat of conscription into the military. The younger brother has fallen in love and become a father to a little girl, who was named after Meral – Bashar's former guardian and the chairperson of the board of our association, FBS e.V.. The arrival of this new family member has brought much joy, yet the seven years of separation and uncertainty continue to burden the family.

Here's how you can help: become a part of our community of donors. Your contribution will make family reunification possible.