SASKATOON – Watching a crisis taking place thousands of miles away is one thing, watching it unfold knowing you have family and friends there is another.
That’s the reality for a University of Saskatchewan student and his parents who are paying close attention to the situation and praying every day for people’s safety.
A recent chemical attack in Syria has drawn the world’s attention. The ongoing crisis has been a reality in Syria for the past two years.
IN DEPTH: Syria crisis
Saeed Dallal Bashi moved from Syria to Canada in 2008. The situation in his homeland has made it hard for the U of S student to focus on daily tasks.
“Some things are concerning, sometimes you heard an explosion happened nearby fighting came close, all these things really concern you when you see them on the news. You try and get in touch with someone on the inside to double check everyone is ok,” said Dallal Bashi.
Last summer, his parents moved to Saskatoon to get away from the destruction and find safety.
“I live good here but I’m sad because my homeland is destroyed,” said Suha Almasri, Dallal Bashi’s mother.
While world leaders prepare to meet for the G20 summit in Russia and discuss the situation, the chemical engineering student knows he’s not just going to wake up one morning to it being over.
In his final year, Dallal Bashi shudders at the thought of chemical warfare.
“There’s always a bunch of tags and multiple things that do not touch, so that’s just a small little scale like that, when you imagine it being on an industrial level, military wise used, you can only imagine what kind of destruction it can cause and that was just frightening, said Dallal Bashi.
It may take years before Syria is safe to return to, Dallal Bashi and his parents hold out hope the day will eventually come.
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