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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/mar/06/twitter-qa-a-syrian-refugee-on-life-in-fortress-europe

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Twitter Q&A: a Syrian refugee on life in fortress Europe Twitter Q&A: a Syrian refugee on life in fortress Europe
(6 months later)
Azzam is a Syrian refugee living in Belgium. He left Syria in 2011. Six months after applying for asylum he found work with an IT firm and has set about making a fresh start in the place he now calls home.Azzam is a Syrian refugee living in Belgium. He left Syria in 2011. Six months after applying for asylum he found work with an IT firm and has set about making a fresh start in the place he now calls home.
His main concern is for his family, who fled to Egypt. “My family rarely go out for fear of being arrested. If detained, they might have to choose between staying in jail or going back to Syria,” Azzam says. His priority is to find a legal way for them to join him.His main concern is for his family, who fled to Egypt. “My family rarely go out for fear of being arrested. If detained, they might have to choose between staying in jail or going back to Syria,” Azzam says. His priority is to find a legal way for them to join him.
UN officials have repeatedly called for European countries to grant asylum to Syrians fleeing the mounting humanitarian and political catastrophe. Refugees have few options to enter the continent safely and, facing difficult choices, some fall into the hands of traffickers while others risk perilous journeys to cross the border. UN officials have repeatedly called for European countries to grant asylum to Syrians fleeing the mounting humanitarian and political catastrophe. Refugees have few options to enter the continent safely and, facing difficult choices, some fall into the hands of traffickers while others risk perilous journeys to cross the border.
Azzam joined us on Twitter this afternoon to answer your questions on the challenges facing refugees in Europe. Here are our highlights. Azzam joined us on Twitter this afternoon to answer your questions on the challenges facing refugees in Europe. Here are our highlights.
@MaeveShearlaw Azzam says: ''Difficult beginning but now I speak Dutch & have a job. Belgium is my second home #HelpSyriasRefugeees’’@MaeveShearlaw Azzam says: ''Difficult beginning but now I speak Dutch & have a job. Belgium is my second home #HelpSyriasRefugeees’’
@keytsman Azzam says: ‘’We try to help them to get a visa but they have no residence permit in Egypt, which the embassy requires''@keytsman Azzam says: ‘’We try to help them to get a visa but they have no residence permit in Egypt, which the embassy requires''
@keytsman @GdnDevelopment Yes, the Belgian embassy in Cairo. They also tried the Belgian embassy in Tripoli, in Libya #HelpSyriasRefugees@keytsman @GdnDevelopment Yes, the Belgian embassy in Cairo. They also tried the Belgian embassy in Tripoli, in Libya #HelpSyriasRefugees
@LouLou_Carr Azzam says: ‘’My family was split up by the war and now I'm trying to bring them back together, hopefully in Belgium’’@LouLou_Carr Azzam says: ‘’My family was split up by the war and now I'm trying to bring them back together, hopefully in Belgium’’
@VRIJHEIDenGELUK Azzam says: ‘’For many people who need help the only way to get to the EU is to pay a smuggler, who often takes the money''@VRIJHEIDenGELUK Azzam says: ‘’For many people who need help the only way to get to the EU is to pay a smuggler, who often takes the money''
@VRIJHEIDenGELUK Azzam says: ''We need Europe to be more welcoming. Europe's governments know very well what is going on in Syria''@VRIJHEIDenGELUK Azzam says: ''We need Europe to be more welcoming. Europe's governments know very well what is going on in Syria''
@zaksuff Azzam says: 'Those who are ill or injured can't get here. Europe should take them from the places where they are not safe'@zaksuff Azzam says: 'Those who are ill or injured can't get here. Europe should take them from the places where they are not safe'
@HarmonyDeknudt Azzam says: ''I am a refugee in Belgium but I can't get my family to join me. They don't have the right papers''@HarmonyDeknudt Azzam says: ''I am a refugee in Belgium but I can't get my family to join me. They don't have the right papers''
@HarmonyDeknudt Azzam says (2): ''They need to prove they have large amounts of savings deposited a long time ago - it's difficult for us''@HarmonyDeknudt Azzam says (2): ''They need to prove they have large amounts of savings deposited a long time ago - it's difficult for us''
Harmony Deknudt also took to Facebook to ask:Harmony Deknudt also took to Facebook to ask:
What stops europe to help the syrian refugees, instead they close the borders and stop every chance of safety for these people. Do you still believe you will be reunite with your family?What stops europe to help the syrian refugees, instead they close the borders and stop every chance of safety for these people. Do you still believe you will be reunite with your family?
Azzam said:Azzam said:
Some politicians in Europe are afraid of Muslim’s immigration. We still hope that we will be reunited with my family. It is very difficult but miracles exist. My parents are old. They can’t handle the dangerous sea trip or being detained in an airport jail . Our only hope is to try to find a legal and safe way to bring them to Europe. We try to help them to get a visa but they have no residence permit in Egypt, which the embassy requires. Also, they need to prove they have large amounts of savings deposited a long time ago - it’s difficult for usSome politicians in Europe are afraid of Muslim’s immigration. We still hope that we will be reunited with my family. It is very difficult but miracles exist. My parents are old. They can’t handle the dangerous sea trip or being detained in an airport jail . Our only hope is to try to find a legal and safe way to bring them to Europe. We try to help them to get a visa but they have no residence permit in Egypt, which the embassy requires. Also, they need to prove they have large amounts of savings deposited a long time ago - it’s difficult for us