March 1994 Our Bosnian Family

by Soumiya Bousfiha

Tuesday was a cloudy, cold, wet, snowy day until I had the opportunity to speak with a sweet, warm Muslim sister by the name of Nome Quraish from Pakistan. She warmed and brightened my day as the sunshine, from all the love she has in caring for others. Nome and her husband have taken in a family from Bosnia.

There are three members of the family here so far, Melvida, and her two children, 8 year old Amina, and 5 year old Adnan. The father, Mohammed, is still in Bosnia, anxiously waiting for the day he can join his family here in America.

While most of us cried silent tears in horror at seeing on TV or in newspapers the I Bosnian Muslims being killed, Dr. Malika Haque was , working at doing something to help. Since the summer of last year, she (along with Dr. Shareef of Gahanna, see page 8) has worked through International Organization of Migration (IOM) to bring those in medical need (required by IOM), here to the U.S. for help. Children's Hospital is working with her for the care and rehabilitation that will be needed for 5 yr. old Adnan. This precious little boy was injured in Bosnia and needs to have eye surgery soon. Please support him with your prayers.

Dr. Haque had submitted several names to IOM of families in need of help. Then the market place in Bosnia was bombed, where 68 were killed and many more injured. She received a fax that one of those families would be here sooner than expected. On February 18th, Adnan, his mother and sister arrived.

Several families in Columbus volunteered to take this family in. Dr. Haque decided on the Quraish family because they have a 5 year old son, Aziz, for Adnan to play with.

Thanks be to Allah, this family has been granted refugee status visas which means they may stay as long as they want in the U.S. Dr. Haque said, "This is not common place and must be a blessing from Allah." She is still working very hard to cut through all the red tape to unite the father once again with the family. He is a war casualty, injured in shelling in Bosnia, and there are problems in evacuating him.
When Melvida arrived here in the U.S., she and her children were in a state of fear. Melvida had seen her parents' bodies after their throats had been cut. Their home was in the war front area and they were forced to leave and find refuge with strangers. They lived in basements with no lights. They had to walk several miles for water, risking being shot, etc.

Adnan had 2 toy guns when he arrived here, and when he would go to bed, he would put one under his pillow and keep one in his hand, as he was afraid of being attacked during the night. The games he knows how to play are war games. This is all he knows. This is all he saw. The children were not allowed to play outside their basement refuge in Bosnia for fear they would be killed.

The daughter, Amina, is a very sweet, shy little gir1. She likes traditional clothes and "girl" things. The fear this child has had to live with just to survive is beyond our worst nightmares.

Dr. Haque has given them freedom from worry of being killed and freedom to practice their religion. In Bosnia they were persecuted if they practiced Islam. They were not allowed to read Quran out loud, for example. They now can look to a future of peace, with no bullets, no bombs, and to the day when their husband and father will be reunited with them.

Suggestions for ways to help this family:

1. Visit them. Let them know they are not alone here. Phone Nome at ###-####. Melvida is very eager to learn English and hopes to be able to work soon. The children have already learned a few words, like "pizza."

2. Donate money. Dr. Haque (###-####) is asking for money to help pay expensive phone bills to Bosnia for the family and to afford personal needs and extra help for the family.

3. Remember them in your prayers.