Please. Anywhere but Syria

My family lived in Homs longer than we can remember.  My wife’s family too.  I’d get up early to pray, then go the baker’s to get bread.  My wife and 2 boys would have breakfast, then I’d walk to my shop.  But then in 2012, all around Syria, there were no jobs, no food.  The people wanted freedom.  Then the soldiers came.

In Daraa, many people were taken to prison.  People took refuge in the mosque, and the soldiers fired on them.  6 or 7 months went by without food or work.  We wanted to go to Jordan but we had no papers.  We went to Damascus, then drive to Daraa.  We were told about a route we could use.  We must leave no trail and not wear shoes.

On the evening of the 6th March 2012, 150 of us set off.  We walked for 51/2 hours.  I carried my younger son on my shoulders and held my older boy by the hand.  But sometimes I had to carry him too, under my arm.  My pregnant wife hung on to me.  We saw the Jordanian guards and then I was scared.  But I heard the words: “Welcome to Jordan, brother”.

Our youngest boy was born two weeks later.  We lived in a camp near the border for a week, then in Ar Ramtha, then Amman.  After 6 years, UNHCR called and said we could go to Europe.  I said, “Please.  Anywhere buy Syria”.  2 months later we arrived in England.