Help Khaled return to LDN after escaping Ukraine

Hi

I am raising funds for my friend and Arabic tutor Khaled Nassra, to return to London after escaping the war in Ukraine.

He has tragically become a double refugee. In 2011 he escaped the war in Syria and came to London. Although he is fortunate to have a British passport, he is currently stuck in a hostel in Poland with no funds to travel back to the UK. Being caught in a war zone again has been deeply traumatic for him. However big or small, your donation will go to help him pay for transportation back to London and help him find a place to live to rebuild his life again.

Here is his story:

My name is Khaled. In 2011 I fled the war in Syria and came to London. I came to Ukraine in 2021 after my life in London became too expensive. I lost my income during the pandemic. I was settled into a new life in Kyiv, working, learning a new language and studying painting. I had no idea that I would be escaping war again within a few months.

Before the Russian invasion happened, I left Kyiv and went west to find safety. I had to give up my apartment that I’d paid six months' rent in advance. I managed to escape with one bag and my cat Fluffita. I made it to Lviv, but the situation was getting worse. The air-raid sirens, the hiding in bomb shelters, it was a traumatic reminder of Syria. I was stopped by police and questioned; they were suspicious of me because I was Syrian, and if it were not for my landlord vouching for me, I would have been arrested and detained.

After the Russian invasion, my only chance to escape was to walk to the Polish border. Unfortunately, I was very ill at the time. I walked for 7 hours in the snow and rain, then waited another 5 hours at the border before being allowed to cross over to Poland. Finally, I managed to get on a bus with others escaping. Polish authorities took me to a hostel in Krakow. Unfortunately, I lost a bag with my laptop on the journey, and I had to leave my cat at an animal shelter.

I am now in a hostel in Krakow. I am trying to raise money to come back to London to start my life again. So if you can help me in any way, I thank you.