From war-torn Syria to sanctuary of Perth

MARYAM Almhameed fled war-torn Syria with her parents to set up a new home in the sanctuary of Perth.

She is grateful for the warmth which has been extended to them since they arrived in the Fair City in July 2016.

The family did not know what to expect — but they are loving life in the city.

Maryam’s three older siblings — sisters Noddar and Nwar and brother Nizar — have settled in Berlin.

However, Maryam is only 18 and it was thought best that she came to Scotland with her parents Rateb and Hanan.

She has excelled at Perth High School and is looking forward to what 2018 will bring.

She is also a member of the congregation at the Church of the Nazarene.

It’s all a far cry from life in the Syrian city of Daraa which she fled along with her folks as bombs rained down and gunfire became a daily occurrence.

Maryam and her parents are not the only Syrians in Perth.

Zabieh Shihada Alsamaan and her family have lived in the Fair City for several years and they have been a great support to the Almhameed family.

Maryam said: “My father was a businessman in Daraa. We had an olive farm and mum was a primary school teacher.

“We were OK until the civil war started in 2011. My father was targeted by Isis and nine of my extended family have been killed in the conflict.

“We had some tough times in Syria. There was daily gunfire and shelling. I couldn’t go to school and my mum couldn’t go to her work because it was so dangerous. “It was horrible and very frightening. “We had no water and no electricity. Nothing. Shops were closed and people weren’t going out.

“Daraa was once such a vibrant city but it became a ghost town.

“Although our property wasn’t hit when we were there, it was after we left.

“We were living in a war zone and I know people who lost their lives.”

Maryam and her family sought refuge in Egypt, with her dad and brother going there first.

Maryam said: “Nizar wanted to study German at college and found a college in Egypt which had a German course.

“So he and my dad went to Egypt and the rest of the family followed.

“However, we didn’t feel stable in Egypt. It wasn’t nice, so when the chance came to go to Scotland we took it, with my two sisters and brother going to Germany.

“We feel stable in Perth. People are lovely and I’m getting on well at school. It’s a good education for me.

“The lifestyle is so different to Syria but we are getting used to it. Perth has been very welcoming.

“We hope to go back to Syria one day but when that will be I don’t know.

“We still have cousins there and the situation is still very bad.

“However, Perth is now our home and we are grateful for the love shown to us.”