Syrian boy reunited with family in UK after nine months alone in refugee camp

Fawaz Almahmoud lost contact with his parents as they avoided gunfire on the Turkey-Syria border

Fawaz was finally reunited with his aunt, uncle and cousins after arriving in the UK. Courtesy Goodwill Caravan

An 11-year-old refugee boy has been reunited with his family in the UK after being stranded for nine months in a Greek camp.

Fawaz Almahmoud was hugged by crying aunts, cheering uncles and smiling cousins after arriving in Britain.
Fawaz was born in Raqqa, Syria and when his family fled the war-torn city last year, he was separated from his parents on the border with Turkey as they all tried to avoid gunfire.
Somehow, he managed to cross Turkey and reach Greece where he was put in a camp.

His family, working with the charity Goodwill Caravan – which says there are hundreds more children  in refugee camps estranged from their families – has been involved in a lengthy fight to get him to Britain.
"I feel true sadness for all these kids. I wish I could be a mum to all of them because I know how difficult it must be for a child not having a mum," his aunt Zarifa Almahmoud said.

"I hope all these kids can get shelter and that someone in a position of power could pay attention and take their situation seriously. These are kids. They have committed no sin... we hope that Fawaz's experience helps other kids."
For a long time, Liverpool-supporting Fawaz thought his family members had all died because they were not able to find each other.

The boy told ITV News, which first reported his story, that he was attacked in the camp and endured days without food. His uncle Monaf Almahmoud said he was amazed that Fawaz made it to Greece.
Bboth his family and Goodwill Caravan are angry at the time it is taking to reunite refugee children.

Fawaz says he was attacked while living alone in detention centres and refugee camps in Greece. Courtesy Goodwill Caravan

“The Greek government are overwhelmed. However, unfortunately these children are paying the price with changes in asylum law and long waiting times, add to that the pandemic, they're waiting a year to 18 months to be reunited with family,” Hanan Ashegh, the founder of Goodwill Caravan said.

“And they're at risk in the meantime while alone. We would like the British Government to do more, for the Home Office to push the authorities in Greece with dates and more specific deadlines to know when these unaccompanied children can come over.”

A group of 75 cross party MPs has appealed to the Home Office to address the "urgent situation faced by child refugees in Greece”.

They wrote: “In Greece, there are currently 4,253 unaccompanied children. However, there are only 1,873 placed in safe, long-term accommodation.”

Fawaz Almahmoud receives a warm welcome from family members following his ordeal in refugee camps. Courtesy Goodwill Caravan

A Home Office representative said: “The UK has always provided sanctuary for those fleeing persecution, oppression or tyranny and does more to support unaccompanied children than any EU member state.

“Last year, our asylum claims from unaccompanied children accounted for approximately 20 per cent of all claims made in the EU. We are fixing the broken asylum system to make it firm and fair.

“This includes reviewing safe and legal routes to the UK for those most in need of our help, including unaccompanied children.”