(thread) This 5 year old, Arsh, was reunited w/ his parents on Christmas Day! // Ellmarjan, Arsh’s father, worked for 4 years as a translator for the American army. At one point, the Taliban asked him to leak information, but he refused & told them he’d never cooperate w/ them. 
(cont.) After he & his family were harassed several times by the Taliban, Ellmarjan decided to leave the role for his family’s safety. He went back to school & tarted his own pharmacy in Kabul. Again, the Taliban asked for his collaboration, & again, Ellmarjan held his ground.
(cont.) In retaliation, the Taliban threw a hand grenade into the pharmacy. Ellmarjan was severly wounded and stayed for half a year in the hospital. For security reasons, they had to close the pharmacy and move his family to a new city.
(cont.) Ellmarjan became a PA in a police hospital. After assisting on an operation of an Afghan General that received media attention, his life in hiding was over. One day, he and his father went to a bakery to buy bread. Suddenly, they heard gunfire, and his father was killed.
(cont.) As it was no longer safe to be in Afghanistan, Ellmarjan was forced to flee In one of the toughest decisions, Ellmarjan and his wife decided the trip was too dangerous and risky for them to bring their youngest child, Arsh, along. He stayed behind with his grandmother.
(cont.) After a horrific trip through Iran, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, & the Balkans that lasted 7.5 months, they arrived in Belgium seeking asylum. Almost 9 months later, they were granted the official status as a refugee, opening the possibility to ask for family reunification.
(cont.) After another long wait, Arsh was finally granted the visa, and after almost 2 years apart, Arsh reunited w/ his parents and new brother thanks to @miles4migrants supporters. He’d turned 5 just days before the family reunion, so they celebrated his bday together at last!
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