Bashar and Rasha Ibrahim fled Homs and now live in Burnaby, thanks to St. Helen’s Parish

The B.C. Catholic
BURNABY



A young Syrian couple dodged fighting, bombs, and crumbling buildings as they fled home four years ago with little more than the clothes on their backs.

“It was so dangerous. We were very afraid,” said Bashar Ibrahim, who now lives in Burnaby with his wife, Rasha, and their baby girl.

“Some buildings broke down. A lot of people died in the street. A lot of bombs in the same street. Too much fighting.”

Bashar and Rasha are from Homs, which was Syria’s third largest city and home to more than 1 million people before the conflict. When war broke out in March 2011, Homs was one of the first cities hit. Protestors and rebels fought in the streets, and military efforts to squash the fighting left many more dead.

The young pair, living in old town Homs, held on for about one year before, suddenly in 2012, their own neighbourhood was under attack.

“There was sometimes fighting between people, but when we ran away, a big war had started on the street where we lived.”

Bashar and Rasha bolted out of their home with just the clothing on their backs and a few items; Rasha remembers they grabbed one pair of pyjamas.

“We lost everything,” including their car, home, and Bashar’s fast-food restaurant.

They ran through the streets, ducking between crumbling buildings, uncertain of what was around the next corner, toward downtown Homs.

“It’s terrible. We did not know what was happening after the next street. When we get to another area, we do not know what will happen,” Bashar said.

After about 30 minutes, they arrived downtown, caught a taxi, and travelled to another village they believed was safer. Though there was little outright fighting in the streets, Bashar and Rasha were still afraid.

“There’s not war, but it’s not safe,” Bashar said. “Most people have guns and catch someone and ask for ransom. When we work and have money, they know you have money, they catch you, and (ask for a ransom).”

He added that sometimes electricity and gas would be shut off or they would lose access to drinking water.

Two years later, Rasha became pregnant and they moved to Lebanon.

“The Lebanese government doesn’t allow Syrian people to work in Lebanon. A lot of things, it’s hard because you are Syrian.”

Lebanon is also more expensive, so when it came time for their little girl to be born, the pair sought out cheaper health care in Syria, then returned to Lebanon.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, St. Helen’s Parish in Burnaby heard about the conflict and decided to sponsor a Syrian refugee family.

The parish received a list of families in need and, facing the heartbreaking decision of only being able to choose one, selected the Ibrahims.

The Syrian trio arrived at Vancouver International Airport Feb. 10. About 15 parishioners and associate pastor Father Rosemond Sylvestre, CS, greeted them.

“We were not surprised because we thought this thing would happen: a lot of people waiting at the airport,” said Bashar. “Then we came to this home and then they told me: ‘This is your house.’ We are happy with their sympathy.”

Their Burnaby home, fully furnished with new or donated couches, cabinets, beds, pots, pans, and linens, is within walking distance of shopping, public transit, and St. Helen’s Church.

During their first week the Ibrahim family got help to fill out applications for social insurance numbers and other government paperwork and sign up for English classes.

They also had dinner with the parish sponsorship committee at St. Helen’s, which has brought in many refugees, including Vietnamese and Iraqi families, over the years.

“We were very happy when they came,” said parishioner Stephanie Blesch. “Being in a community with us, as they are, and the ability to be near to them and talk to them and show them things was just amazing.”

Many of Bashar and Rasha’s family members, including Rasha’s twin brother, still live in Syria. They miss them, but manage to keep in touch online.

As the war continues, the Ibrahims are glad to be safe. “I’m so happy because my daughter lives in Canada. I think she will have a good future.”