Programme Erasmus + Europe on the move : Migration Biographies
Theses
Another reason for conflict was everyone ’ s individual struggles that they had to deal with . They had all gone through traumatic experiences , lost homes , left family and friends in former homes and some even lost loved ones . Once in Germany , the refugees had to find ways of dealing with their trauma and their emotional response to such trauma . These struggles were accompanied by the uncertainty of what might happen next . They knew that they had to build up a new life but were also aware that they might be sent back to the country where they were initially registered in the European Union per the Dublin Regulation . 156 All of the refugees were hoping for Germany ’ s support .
From the beginning the Syrian family was supported by a team of voluntary helpers who helped many of the refugees . The refugees who applied for asylum were supported with formal documents , letters and their arrival in Germany . One of the helpers who has been helping and supporting the family for over four years as of 2019 , helped them to find an apartment and has remained a constant support for the family .
In February 2016 , Arman arrived at the refugee camp in Germany and was reunited with his family . Nesrin , Samira , Aleyna and Tarik had continuous contact with their father throughout the period they were separated . Nesrin was even able to send some money to her husband during his imprisonment . After a few days of recovery , Arman had to register himself at the arrival centre for asylum seekers in Munich . From there he was sent to a transitional place for four weeks . An application for a family reunion was submitted and he was able to join his family .
After the family reunited and moved into their first apartment , Nesrin gave birth to her fourth child , Hasan . They had to move to another apartment after a while following tension and disagreement with another Muslim family . The other family was very orthodox in their belief whereas the Haddad family consider themselves more liberal in their religious beliefs . These arguments were the reason for them to move to another apartment where they are currently living at the time of writing .
The family expected fewer argumentative encounters upon arriving in Germany , however , as a consequence of their relatively liberal social and religious beliefs they got into more discussions than expected with other refugees . 157 In the 1951 Refugee Convention and amended by its 1967 Protocol a refugee was defined as someone who
“ owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race , religion , nationality , membership of a particular social group or political opinion , is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or , owing to such fear , is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country ; or who , not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence , is unable or , owing to such fear , is unwilling to return to it .” 158
Nesrin said that it was a difficult period in their life . They were torn between the happiness of having escaped Syria safely and the fear that their asylum application would be denied . Furthermore , the family worried that the father would not be accepted at first due to his initial registration in Bulgaria .
Although having reached their desired destination , their future was still uncertain , a situation exacerbated by the turbulence and trauma associated with fleeing Syria . 159
156 ( The Dublin Regulation n . d .)
157 ( Haddad 2019 , 4 )
158 ( UNHCR n . d .)
159 ( Haddad 2019 , 4 )
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