From Syria to Sweden: Eiad´s perilous voyage across the Mediterranean
Eiad’s wife did not want him to embark on the perilous journey across the Mediterranean Sea to safety in Europe, but Eiad believed it was their only option. They had tried to build a new life in Egypt, but after two years in the country, Eiad realized he would not be able to provide a good future for his young children there. “Life wasn’t very good in Egypt”, he explains. In spite of his wife’s protests, Eiad decided to risk his life in a rickety boat sailing from Egypt to Italy. His wife and children returned to Damascus. “I was more worried about the kids”, he says. “I thought that if my life will finish, it will finish anyway – in Egypt, in the sea, wherever.”
After one and a half months of searching, he made contact with a human smuggler. The price for getting to Europe: 2,500 dollars. “We went in a group so it would be cheaper. The safest way to travel to Europe is through Turkey but it’s much more expensive. Sometimes, it can cost more than 8000 dollars per person” says Eiad. He describes the five-day boat journey to Italy with more than 300 others as “hell”- people were thrown into the boat and the smugglers did not care if they fell into the water. “If they had animals with them, they would take better care of them because they’re worth more to them”, says Eiad. Still, there was a sense of solidarity between passengers. Eiad recalls how two people almost fell off the boat in their sleep but were caught by the other passengers.
After reaching the shores of Italy, Eiad headed towards Northern Europe and arrived in Sweden on 12 October 2014. Coming here was a great relief, but life as a refugee has its daily struggles. “I miss my family” says Eiad, explaining how he had to adjust to his new life at the asylum-seeker reception centre in Farsta, Stockholm. “Starting over is not easy and leaving your country without your family… it’s hard. A lot of people who came here didn’t want to leave their lives behind in Syria. But it is impossible to give them back the same life here…They are forced to change” he says sadly.
For 36-year-old Eiad, a former shop and restaurant owner, living a slower paced life at the reception centre is a challenge. He often plays cards with some of the other people at the centre to make time pass faster and sometimes he also plays football. “But I have a problem with my back so I can’t do too much sport.” He believes life moves slower in Sweden. “In Syria, we do everything fast. A lot of Arabs find this very frustrating because we are always in a hurry” says Eiad with a laugh,
“We want things to happen faster, and we want to be reunited with our families sooner.”
Eiad says he has not started his life in Sweden yet, not without his family. “Your mind is not clear, it’s with your family, your kids, and you’re waiting to see them.” But despite the continuing concerns for his family, Eiad is hopeful for the future. “I want to finish my studies or work and study at the same time. I don’t like to sit still.” He hopes to use the skills he acquired as a restaurant owner in Syria to start a small restaurant in Sweden, serving Syrian food.
Eiad’s application for asylum has just been approved and he is waiting to be reunited with his wife and two sons, who are still in Syria. “My children are very excited about coming to Sweden”, says Eiad with a big smile. “My wife is worried because she doesn’t know anyone here and it’s strange for her. But I think she’s going to like it. She is an English teacher” he says proudly.
Page 1 of 33
-
Norway’s contributions to displaced and war-affected families in Ukraine remain critical amid ongoing hostilities
19.12.2024The full-scale invasion of Ukraine is continuing to cause massive displacement, civilian casualties, and damage to infrastructure. Norway’s contribution to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, remains a lifeline for families in Ukraine.
-
Statement on Syria by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi
10.12.2024Syria is at a crossroads – between peace and war, stability and lawlessness, reconstruction or further ruin. After 14 years of conflict, recent developments bring hope that the suffering of the Syrian people may finally end, and that the world’s largest forced displacement crisis can move towards just solutions. There […]
-
Resettlement – A lifeline for the most vulnerable
28.11.2024UNHCR was created to assist and protect refugees uprooted by war and persecution. Resettlement has always been a fundamental element of refugee protection. Resettlement is the transfer of refugees from an asylum country to another State that has agreed to admit them and ultimately grant them protection and permanent residence. […]
-
Call for interest: Share your experiences of the family reunification process
13.11.2024Are you currently or have you been in the family reunification process? In December 2024, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is organizing focus group discussions on family reunification in Sweden. UNHCR is looking for refugees and their family members who have experiences of the family reunification process in Sweden and […]
-
Sweden Aids Uganda’s Efforts in Providing Safe Haven and Self-Reliance for Africa’s Largest Refugee Population
22.10.2024Uganda provides a home to nearly 1.7 million refugees and asylum-seekers, the highest number in Africa, most of whom come from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
-
Latvia won Unity Euro Cup 2024
15.10.2024The 2024 Unity EURO Cup brought together refugees and host communities in a landmark initiative for social integration.
-
Five trailblazing women win UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Awards for their life-changing work
09.10.2024Five trailblazing women – a nun, an activist, a social entrepreneur, a volunteer aid worker, and an advocate for ending statelessness – will be honoured as winners of the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. This year’s global laureate, Sister Rosita Milesi, is a Brazilian […]
-
UNHCR Nordic and Baltic countries organizes a seminar for refugee law practitioners in the Nordic countries
07.10.2024The UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries and partners are pleased to welcome you to a two-day seminar to inspire and boost the capacity of refugee lawyers and other practitioners in the Nordic countries.
-
“When I play, I feel happy” – Wheelchair tennis helps refugees integrate in Sweden
03.09.2024When Fyori fled from Eritrea to Sweden on her own in 2021, she had never even held a racket. Now, she plays tennis every week with Stockholm Wheelchair Tennis Club.
-
Stockholm Pride 2024 shines a light on LGBTIQ+ persons forced to flee
31.07.2024This year, the theme of Stockholm Pride is “Stronger Together” (Starkare tillsammans). Check out below a list of events relevant to UNHCR’s work.