Abdul Samir Zaheri, a nine-year-old Afghan boy who was found almost frozen to death in eastern Turkey's Erzurum after he became stranded on his illegal migration to Denmark, has been reunited with his family there.
Samir was found near a gas station in Erzurum's Pasinler, after he was left behind by the group of immigrants he was travelling with. He was then taken to local hospital, where he received treatment for almost two months. After he recovered, Samir found home with the Nene Hatun Day Care Center in the town and awaited reunion with his family. His parents had left Afghanistan with his three younger siblings and sought refuge in Denmark two years ago.
He was traveling with his uncle through Turkey when he fell ill due to the freezing winter weather. The group of immigrants he was traveling with decided to leave him behind after he could not travel on foot any more.
Samir was then helped by an Afghan refugee family, who had taken shelter in the town in 2011. His uncle, unable to go to Denmark, came back to the town and found Samir to be alive.
Later, with the efforts of the Turkish Red Crescent and Danish Red Cross, Samir was finally reunited with his family in Denmark, yesterday.
Arriving at the Copenhagen airport, Samir told Anadolu Agency, "I am reunited with my mother. I am really happy."
Samir's mother thanked everyone for the support that made their reunion possible. His father said, "We thank the Turkish government, the Turkish people and the people of Erzurum (the province where Pasinler is located), Turkish Red Crescent and the Danish Red Cross. You have given me back my lost son. We thought we would never see him again. You have given him back into our arms."
"Samir is a child who fled war, who spoke a language you do not even know, but you protected him. I want to thank you for your help towards refugees and people who are still living in war," he said.
After going through airport procedures, Samir left with his family for a refugee camp close to Copenhagen.
