Iraqi refugee Mohammed Hussein is one of the lucky ones after finding comfort within the confines of a camp in Germany two years ago.
“I feel that I was born again,” Mohammed, 30, who withheld his real name, told The National ahead of World Refugee Day on Tuesday. “Although we are still in a camp, life is different here from the one we had in Iraq.”
He was forced to leave his homeland Baghdad due to the unrelenting violence that engulfed the country in past years, unemployment and poor public services.
After enduring a perilous journey that took him from Turkey to Belarus to Lithuania and Poland, he arrived in Germany in summer 2021.
He said he spent $3,000 on the journey.
“It was a terrible journey, but worth it,” he said.
Since then, he has sought refuge in a camp specifically designed to provide assistance and support to those seeking asylum.
Despite the hardships he endured, his determination and unwavering spirit have allowed him to find a sense of belonging within the camp's tight-knit community.
“Life here is not easy, but I have found hope and support amid my fellow refugees,” he said.
“The camp has provided us with essential services, education and opportunities to integrate into German society. I am learning the language and trying to rebuild my life.”
His days are spent navigating an unfamiliar culture and language, but his determination to rebuild his life keeps him going.
Despite the difficulties, he remains optimistic, finding comfort in the friendships he has forged within the camp and dreaming of a day when he can contribute to his new community.
“It’s not easy to leave everything behind and start a new life, but we have to look forward,” he said.
Four years ago, mother-of-two Ameera decided to leave Baghdad to join her family in Germany. She travelled to Turkey and on to Greece.
“It was a real ordeal from the truck we all crammed inside like sheep to perilous journey by boat to cross to Greece and walking barefoot for hours in the forest,” Ameera said.
After spending eight months in Greece, she settled in Germany with her brother. She now has her residency and works at a nursing home.
“I have found here security, love and respect,” she said.
Mohammed and Ameera’s stories stand in stark contrast to that of Ameer Al Dulaimi, whose journey serves as a poignant reminder of the immense challenges faced by refugees in their pursuit of safety and a better life.
Like many others, Mr Al Dulaimi embarked on a perilous journey through multiple countries, with hopes of finding stability and opportunities in Europe that seemed elusive in his war-ravaged nation.
His seven-month odyssey was fraught with danger, as he navigated treacherous paths and overcame numerous obstacles in his desperate pursuit of a better life.
Since starting his journey in July 2021, he has returned to his war-torn homeland with deep disappointment and a sense of broken dreams.
I have found here security, love and respect
Iraqi migrant says
“After this experience, my life turned upside-down,” Mr Al Dualimi, 26, a painter and decorator, told The National from his home city of Ramadi west of Baghdad.
With only $2,700 and a determination fuelled by his dreams, he travelled to Belarusian capital Minsk where he joined a group of migrants also aiming to reach Europe.
“Our dangerous expedition involved crossing rough seas and treacherous land borders, often relying on human smugglers and enduring unimaginable hardships,” he said.
When they reached Lithuania, security forces arrested them. He made the harrowing decision to return to Iraq, where he now grapples with a sense of defeat and shattered aspirations.
'I risked my life for rejection'
“They kept moving us from one camp to another and then put us in a prison. I couldn’t stand it so decided to return when the Iraqi government started to operate flights back,” he said with a voice filled with exhaustion.
“I hoped to have a better life. I’m disappointed, shocked and under psychological pressure.
“I risked my life, crossing mountains, seas, and borders, only to face rejection and despair.”
The journey back was even harder.
“I felt defeated and broken,” he said. “It's hard to come to terms with the fact that I couldn't achieve what I set out for”.
The dreams that propelled him on his perilous journey have been replaced by the harsh reality of a city where unemployment is high and inadequate infrastructure makes life hard.
“I still have that dream of heading to Europe, but don’t have enough resources now to take that trip. Maybe in the future,” he said.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EXare%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJanuary%2018%2C%202021%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPadmini%20Gupta%2C%20Milind%20Singh%2C%20Mandeep%20Singh%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20Raised%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2410%20million%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E28%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eundisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMS%26amp%3BAD%20Ventures%2C%20Middle%20East%20Venture%20Partners%2C%20Astra%20Amco%2C%20the%20Dubai%20International%20Financial%20Centre%2C%20Fintech%20Fund%2C%20500%20Startups%2C%20Khwarizmi%20Ventures%2C%20and%20Phoenician%20Funds%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Profile of Foodics
Founders: Ahmad AlZaini and Mosab AlOthmani
Based: Riyadh
Sector: Software
Employees: 150
Amount raised: $8m through seed and Series A - Series B raise ongoing
Funders: Raed Advanced Investment Co, Al-Riyadh Al Walid Investment Co, 500 Falcons, SWM Investment, AlShoaibah SPV, Faith Capital, Technology Investments Co, Savour Holding, Future Resources, Derayah Custody Co.
Uefa Nations League: How it Works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
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BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Results
4pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Dirt); 1,400m
Winner: Solar Shower; William Lee (jockey); Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
4.35pm: Handicap; Dh165,000 (D); 2,000m
Winner: Thaaqib; Antonio Fresu; Erwan Charpy.
5.10pm: Maiden; Dh165,000 (Turf); 1,800m
Winner: Bila Shak; Adrie de Vries; Fawzi Nass
5.45pm: Handicap; Dh175,000 (D); 1,200m
Winner: Beachcomber Bay; Richard Mullen; Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,800m
Winner: Muzdawaj; Jim Crowley; Musabah Al Muhairi
6.55pm: Handicap; Dh185,000 (D); 1,600m
Winner: Mazeed; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap; Dh205,000 (T); 1,200m
Winner: Riflescope; Tadhg O’Shea; Satish Seemar.
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The details
Heard It in a Past Life
Maggie Rogers
(Capital Records)
3/5
