“Douma [Syria] was heaven. I wish those days would come back… the war wiped it all away,” says nineteen-year old Omar Wawieh. Omar and his family are considered one of the lucky ones — after 18 months of vetting from the U.S. Embassy, they were granted emigration into the United States, and are now living in a motel in Pomona, California.
But as the Los Angeles Times comments, “Lucky isn’t the same as easy.”
After the horrific attacks in Paris, anti-refugee sentiment has quickly spread across America where more than half of the country’s governors have stated they won’t allow Syrian refugees to re-settle in their states.
The Wawieh family arrived in Pomona just a few months ago and though the first month of rent is paid and each family member has received some money, after three months of support from a non-profit agency, they will be on their own.
In this compelling piece from the Los Angeles Times, we see the refugee story up close and personal as the Wawieh family tries to get back on their feet… and yes, with the support of America and the local Muslim community.
