I returned to the Middle East after 9 years to rescue my brother
Hi, I'm Eyad. I'm 37 years old. In 2017 I had to leave Syria
because of the war, and this is one of the photos that has stayed
with me all this time.
In the photo I'm with my brother Rami, on a walk in Damascus. We
didn't know back then that our lives would take different paths
until now.
In 2017 I arrived in Argentina as a refugee through the Syria
Program, fleeing the war. For nine years I did not return to my
country, until the moment I learned my brother was in grave danger.
I used to speak with him daily, until his behavior became erratic
and the calls dropped off. I began to notice him distant and not himself.
Two months ago, several mutual friends and neighbors from the
neighborhood where we grew up reached out to me because they saw my
brother too thin, wandering the streets and unwashed. The
uncertainty about his behavior worried me deeply.
So, two weeks ago, I made the drastic decision to buy an
emergency ticket to Syria to go rescue him.
Rami is 43 years old and my only living family member. I
borrowed money from friends to make the urgent trip, having no
idea what I would find when I landed in Syria, hoping I could help
him and afraid of not knowing what was happening to him.
With what friends and acquaintances lent me I was able to rent
a modest hotel:
The idea was to spend a few weeks with him to take him to the
doctor and carry out the necessary paperwork to obtain a
humanitarian visa for Argentina, which for various circumstances I
had not been able to process in previous years.
In 2023 I participated in the World Refugee Forum at the UN in Geneva.
I have dedicated these nine years to building a dignified life in
Argentina. But when I learned that my only brother had been found
wandering the streets, showing signs of confusion and malnutrition,
an alarm went off inside me. It didn't matter how, but I had to go
rescue him urgently.
As I told you, I am now in a modest hotel in Latakia, together
with my brother:
The emergency flight cost 2,300 dollars, money I borrowed from
friends. In one week I must return to Argentina, but I have to pay
back the debt and my resources are scarce. Meanwhile, Rami needs a
medical diagnosis, treatment for his mental health, and to begin
the paperwork to obtain his passport and the necessary
documentation for a humanitarian visa that will allow him to
travel to Argentina to be under my care.
We need to raise 4,500 dollars. Here is how
every cent will be used:
-
2,300 dollars — Pay for Eyad's emergency flight (debt to friends). We have the purchase receipt.
-
600 dollars — Stay at the Latakia hotel while the process lasts.
-
500 dollars — Send a representative to Lebanon to process the family record book and its translation/legalization in Beirut (the Argentine consulate in Damascus is closed).
-
240 dollars — Rami's passport and initial immigration paperwork.
-
200 dollars — First medical consultations and initial medication for Rami (approximately 20 dollars per consultation).
-
160 dollars — Local transportation and processing fees.
-
500 dollars — Food, unexpected expenses and minor costs in a context of war and economic crisis.
Total: 4,500 dollars.
This is not just money for a flight and treatment. It is money
for a real possibility: that Rami, at 43 years old, can heal enough
to travel to Argentina and stay with me. He needs urgent treatment
for his mental and physical health. It is the possibility that both
of us, who have already lost our parents, will not lose each other
after the war.
Every donation, no matter how small, is a concrete step toward
this reunion. Sharing this campaign is also donating. We both thank
you from Latakia.
We will update this page periodically with receipts, photos of the
paperwork and Rami's health status. Your trust is the most valuable
thing we have.
Campaign Stages: Where Your Support Is Going
To help every donor know exactly what their contribution is
achieving, we have divided the goal into four concrete stages. As each
one is reached, we will publish an update with proof.
Stage 1: Immediate Urgency — Bring Eyad Back Without Debt
Partial goal: 2,300 dollars
The first objective is to pay for the emergency flight Eyad already
used to reach Syria. This money will be returned directly to the
friends and acquaintances who lent it. We have the flight purchase
receipt and will publish the repayment receipt.
What is achieved? Eyad can return to Argentina in one week
without carrying a debt that puts his economic stability at risk.
Stage 2: Shelter and Documents — Stabilize Rami and Open a Legal Door
Partial goal: 1,500 additional dollars (cumulative: 3,800 dollars)
This stage covers:
-
The stay at the Latakia hotel (600 dollars) while the paperwork lasts.
-
Sending a representative to Beirut, Lebanon, to process Rami's family record book and its translation/legalization (500 dollars).
-
Processing Rami's Syrian passport and initial immigration documents (240 dollars).
-
Local transportation and processing in Syria (160 dollars).
What is achieved? Rami is no longer on the streets. He has a
roof, food, and the legal path begins so he can apply for a
humanitarian visa to Argentina. We will publish photos of the hotel,
the representative in transit, and the documents in process.
Stage 3: First Diagnosis — Understanding What Is Happening to Rami
Partial goal: 200 additional dollars (cumulative: 4,000 dollars)
This stage covers the first medical consultations with a
psychiatrist in Latakia and initial medication for depression,
anxiety, and stabilizing his mental health. Each consultation costs
approximately 20 dollars.
What is achieved? For the first time in months, Rami will be
seen by a specialist. We will have a concrete diagnosis and an initial
treatment plan. We will publish the consultation receipt and, with
Rami's consent, an update on his condition.
Stage 4: Closing and Contingencies — End the Campaign Safely
Partial goal: 500 additional dollars (cumulative: 4,500 dollars)
This stage covers the inevitable unexpected costs in a context of
war, economic crisis, and mental health: extra food, additional
medication, last-minute changes in paperwork, or unforeseen
transportation costs.
What is achieved? The campaign closes with a cushion that
guarantees nothing is left half-done. If money remains, it will go
directly to Rami's ongoing treatment. We will publish a final
breakdown of all expenses.
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