BORE-DING GATE
Syrian refugee stranded in airport for SEVEN months finally makes it though passport control
In emotional scenes, Hassan made it to Vancouver after a group of Canadians lobbied the government to help him
A SYRIAN man who was stranded in Kuala Lumpur airport for seven months has finally made it to Canada.
Refugee Hassan al-Kontar was stuck in the Malaysian airport since March this year after refusing to serve in the Syrian military.
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Hassan became stranded in Malaysia whilst trying to seek asylum there.
He had overstayed his visa, but wasn’t allowed to leave the airport or fly to another country as there are travel restrictions on Syrian citizens.
Hassan, 37, posted a video from Taiwan International airport, reporting that he was finally on his way to Vancouver.
He had been surviving on handouts from airlines, washing in airport toilets and sleeping on chairs.
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Referring to his long hair and beard, Hassan said: “I know I look like someone from the stone or Middle Ages. I’m sorry for not having been touch for the last two months.
“What is important is today, and the future. And today I am in Taiwan International Airport, and tomorrow I’ll be reaching my final destination – Vancouver, Canada.
“I couldn’t have done this without the help of my family and my Canadian family. Thank you all.”
He also asked for people to keep those in their thoughts who “need it the most” in refugee camps and detention camps all over the world.
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Hassan was helped by a group of Canadians who raised money for him, helped him with his application for asylum there, and requested that the government take him in.
Laurie Cooper, a member of the group of Canadians who helped Hassan, told that she will be hosting Hassan at her home in Whistler.
She said: “I spent the day washing the sheets and making up the bed in my guest room for him.
“It all seemed impossible: I’m a mom who lives in a little log cabin and he was living in an airport.”
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Hassan landed at Vancouver on Monday, and told a reporter: “For the time being, I need a hot shower for the rest of the day. I’ve done my time in airports, no more airports.”
During his seven months in the airport Hassan documented his plight on Twitter with his feed becoming a kind of diary of his bizarre situation.
He has shared words of hope, humour, peace, fear, frustration and hopelessness along with photos from his Terminal Two home and video diaries, many in English.
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He said he didn’t like people dwelling on his unusual living conditions but it’s hard to not be captivated by his insights into daily life at the airport where some days have been harder than others.
In a video from March 23 he said: “I am just counting days here, with no hope."
Sun Online Travel previously revealed the items that you shouldn't buy at the airport from bottled water to duty-free - or risk wasting hundreds of pounds.
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