United States - Ahmad’s family were this week the first Syrian refugees to leave Amman, Jordan to be resettled in the United States as part of a three-month, US “surge” operation to process 10,000 refugees. 

“The family is the first to depart after having been granted refugee status by US immigration officers during our three-month resettlement surge operation that began on February 1,” said US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells, who met the family at Queen Alia International Airport on April 6.

The family boarded a plane bound for Chicago, Illinois, before reaching their final destination in Kansas City, Missouri, yesterday.

The surge operation is being supported by IOM’s Resettlement Support Center for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in Amman.

“In order to do our part in meeting President Obama’s directive of 10,000 Syrian refugee arrivals in the US by September 30, we have interviewed and assisted hundreds of refugees daily since February 1,” said Regional Program Manager Jeanette Camarillo.

On April 6 IOM opened a new office at Queen Alia International Airport for the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to conduct additional security checks before the refugees depart.

“Ahmad’s family has taken many difficult steps since they were forced to flee Syria and live as refugees in Jordan. But now we are delighted to see them take their flight to the US and to embark on a new life in Kansas City,” Camarillo said.

Ahmad, with his wife and five children, fled to Jordan after the start of the conflict in Syria. Back home, in Homs, he worked as a blacksmith, construction worker and farmer. He was also a victim of arbitrary arrests, detention, and torture in 2011, before witnessing several relatives injured by indiscriminate shelling. His five-year old son was diagnosed with a hole in his heart and is designated for medical treatment in the US.

“Their new life in America will afford Ahmad’s children a safe and secure environment in which to live, medical attention that they require, the education opportunities that they need to grow, and a share in the dignity that they deserve,” said Ambassador Wells at the airport before the family departed.

As of March 31st, 29,055 refugees from around the world have been resettled in the US under the USRAP. In total, 85 000 refugees should be admitted into the country during the 2016 fiscal year ending in September.

For further information, please contact Hajer Naili at IOM Washington, Email: hnaili@iom.int  Tel: +1 202 568 3757.