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This Syrian refugee posted a moving open letter to Britain after finding a new home

This Syrian refugee posted a moving open letter to Britain after finding a new home

A Syrian refugee has written an open letter to Britain thanking all the people who have helped him on his way to finding a new home in the country.

The man, who now goes by the name Jack Ar, wrote the letter on a Calais solidarity page along with a photo of his new bedroom.

In the letter, which has now received over 4,000 likes and 1,000 shares, Jack explains his heartache of having to leave his home in Syria but of his immense relief at the welcome he has received in Britain.

When I moved into this house and I was shown my room by the family who are hosting me in their own home, I was stunned and amazed by their attitude and the way they treated me. The hospitality and care which they showed to make me comfortable is something I don’t have words to describe. This was a tremendous relief and soothed my fears and worries.

Jack, who explained to i100.co.uk that he had spent time working for Unicef in Iraq and Syria helping other refugees before having to flee himself, left his home of Aleppo earlier this year.

Picture: Jack AR/Facebook

He explained that his eight-week journey to safety had taken him through northern Syria, Turkey, the Greek island of Kos and France.

After staying in Calais for 12 days, Jack explained that he had been duped by a people smuggler who put him in a truck headed in the wrong direction; being diverted through Belgium, Germany and Denmark.

The smuggler put me inside a tanker full of flour for seven hours. It was awful. There was no reception nor light there, I was almost suffocating.

After finally making his way to the UK in the back of a truck in July, he has now been granted asylum and is keen to find work.

He told i100.co.uk:

I want to go back to Syria and I want to take the opportunity of me being here to take my master's degree and go back and be part of the rebuilding efforts at home.

He noted in his letter on Facebook that he had been more than pleasantly surprised at the attitudes of people in Britain, despite the negative but very vocal minority.

You can read his full letter below:

Picture: Jack AR/Facebook

This is my new home in England and, I have to tell you, it has taken me completely by surprise. I had heard and read so much about how the British people were so unwelcoming to migrants and asylum seekers and want to close the borders and even bomb the boats carrying migrants. But my experience has shown me that the ones who care and want to help far outnumber the ones who don’t. I have met such kindness from so many strangers.

I was forced to leave my home in Syria due to the terrible war in my country. Of course, wherever I go I will never feel happier or more comfortable than being in my home in Syria. I have my roots there, I grew up there, I have all my friends and loved ones there (the ones who are still struggling to stay alive and the ones who lost their lives in this horrendous war), I have all my memories there, my childish dreams and aspirations.

Many people understand this, especially the refugees, migrants and immigrants who have been forced to leave their home and have also felt the pain and recognise what I feel.

Yesterday, when I moved into this house and I was shown my room by the family who are hosting me in their own home, I was stunned and amazed by their attitude and the way they treated me. The hospitality and care which they showed to make me comfortable is something I don’t have words to describe. This was a tremendous relief and soothed my fears and worries.

I sincerely thank all and everyone who made this happen. You can’t imagine how many people are giving their time, efforts and money to help people like me. I thank all the Calais support /solidarity groups, the organisers and their dedicated supporters within the UK and elsewhere. I thank the Room for Refugees initiative and the people behind it.

I thank everyone who helped to spread the word and showing me that people here really do care.

More: This Syrian refugee has been handing out free food to the homeless in Berlin

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