Samira Khalifa

I have found it very difficult to feel at home here because it’s been a constant struggle with the Danish Immigration Service. They have made it difficult for me to bring my family together, so I still don’t feel at all safe. I cannot find peace of mind until we’re all together again.

Six years ago my husband disappeared. Some people said he’s been hit by a bomb, others that he had been taken prisoner. Myself, I believe he’s dead. Suddenly I was on my own in a war-stricken country and had to look after our three sons. Aleppo was extremely hit hard. We weren’t just afraid of dying but also of being abducted. My son was taken, but thank God we later found him, collapsed in the gutter. He was one of the few to return, and I’m deeply grateful for that. After that experience I decided we just had to leave Syria. We fled to Turkey. But my oldest son was still caught in Aleppo. Before he managed to escape they blocked off the whole city so you could no longer get in or out. That’s the reason he never travelled with us.

My son was trapped in Aleppo for two years. It felt like a slow death. He’s finally in Turkey now waiting for family reunification. I can’t breathe normally until he’s back with me.
It’s impossible for me to get on with my life until I know he’s safe. Before the war in Syria, I spent a lot of time going to the theatre, listening to music and watching movies. I’m a very social and culturally minded person, but my current situation and the language issue means it has been difficult to find like-minded people with the same interests. I hope to get on with my life once the whole family is back together again. I also need time to grieve for the loss of my husband and the loss of my life in Syria.

53 year / female / single / children / attends language school / Frederiksberg / from Syria / came to Denmark in 2014 / residence permit same year