A Syrian family, separated by war for eight years, has reunited in Clones with support from the Irish Red Cross, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The Syrian family's movement from Lebanon to Ireland is part of an initiative aimed at reuniting families affected by conflict and displacement. "The first thing I want to do when I arrive in Ireland, is to visit my sister Dlava's grave," said Jihan before starting her journey from Beirut to Ireland on 31 January 2024. The family, hailing from northeast Syria, embarked on a long-awaited journey to reunite with Jihan’s parents and siblings in Ireland six months after Jihan’s sister Dlava Mohamed tragically lost her life in a car accident. The 16-year-old Largy College student died alongside her best friend 17-year-old Kiea McCann following a fatal road traffic collision on the N54 in Legnakelly on the Clones to Smithboro Road back in August.
The devastating event had deeply impacted Jihan’s family, generating a huge wave of support and solidarity from the entire Irish Syrian community in Ireland. While they cannot fill the void left by Dlava's absence, Jihan, her husband, and their three children are optimistic about the new chapter they are about to begin, surrounded by loved ones, in Ireland. With the family reunited, there is a sense of joy and hope in the air.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deirdre Garvey, Secretary General Irish Red Cross, said; "For the Mohamed family the suffering of being separated from their daughter Jihan for eight years and losing their daughter Davla so tragically last summer was immense and touches the core of us all. Reuniting families is a fundamental part of the Red Cross Movement’s mandate so we were delighted to be able to assist and wish Jihan and her family every good wish for their future life in Ireland."
