Friday, December 13, 2019

Reading about "two 14-year-olds"

"...who fled Afghanistan in search of a better future. The boisterous pair, who became firm friends after meeting in a makeshift migrant camp two months ago, already have a lifetime of experience between them.

Since leaving home last year, they have traversed six countries by foot, bus and boat – Iran, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia and now Bosnia. They dream of getting to the bright lights of Germany, France or Britain.

'My father died fighting the Taliban and I was living in fear,' says Raaz, hugging himself to stay warm in the cold. 'My mother said I had to leave, she said I must save myself and find a real future.'

 The teenager is sitting with Nijab on the flat roof of an abandoned building in the heart of Vučjak camp, a squalid quagmire without electricity, running water or toilets.

'I have only spoken to my mother once since I left home,' Raaz says. 'She doesn’t know I am here in the jungle, I don’t want her to worry.'

Nijab nods his head in agreement. Originally from Khost in western Afghanistan, his family relocated to Kabul three years ago, but his father urged him to flee the country amid continued conflict and instability."

~ S. Newey

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bosnia-migration-crisis/

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