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Issam’s Story

by: Issam, a Syrian refugee

Hello, my name is Issam and I am recognized as a refugee in Belgium. I am from Syria and I fled my country because of the war. I am married and I have 2 children. I was chef in pastry in Syria and Turkey. My wife took care of the children and also was studying at university.

I left my country in July 2015. My children were 3 years and 5 years old. I went to Turkey and took the boat to Europe. I went through the Balkan countries before arriving in Belgium on 25/08/2015. I applied for asylum on 09/2015 and it was accepted on 04/01/2016.

In October 2016, I went to Caritas to start a family reunification procedure. It took a lot of time before we introduced the file because it costs money and we must prepare a lot of papers. I got into debt for my family to go to Lebanon to file the file of family reunification because there is no more embassy of Belgium in Syria.

In January we introduced the file and in April 2017 my family had a visa agreement. I started thinking about a solution for tickets but I did not have a lot of money.  My income was low.

Then Caritas told me about Miles for Migrants. A donor of miles called Sarah booked plane tickets for my family. After almost 2 years, I could see my wife and my 2 children on June 3, 2017. I was the happiest man in the world when I saw my family.

I am very grateful to Sarah, Miles for Migrants and Caritas who accompanied me in this long process.

Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!

How Miles4Migrants helps

We collaborate with a network of global non-governmental organization (NGO) partners who work directly with refugees and migrants to identify and verify individuals who are financially unable to afford air travel. Once our partners submit flight requests, we use donated frequent flyer miles, credit card points, travel vouchers, and cash to eliminate transportation barriers for the most vulnerable individuals affected by war, persecution, or climate disaster. Our goal is to help these individuals reunite with their loved ones and start a new life in a safe environment.

Learn more about us in our FAQ

Support our work

– According to the United Nations, there are currently 108 million individuals forcibly displaced from their homes worldwide.  

– The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that seeking asylum is a fundamental human right. Everyone has the right to life and liberty. Everyone has the right to freedom from fear. Everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution.

As migration is often the last option for survival, migrants may embark on clandestine journeys, subject to danger, extortion, and inhumane conditions

Once they finally get legal approval for resettlement, migrants face another challenge that makes the journey seem impossible: the transportation costs.

There are many ways for you to get involved and help us continue our work:

You can donate cash to help us cover operational expenses or contribute your unused air miles, credit card points, or travel vouchers to help us book flights for refugees and asylum seekers. Additionally, you can help us spread the word about our cause and our impact on the lives of those we serve.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, has the power to make a difference. Thank you for considering supporting our mission.

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