Refaai Hamo will attend the Nation of the Union as dexterous guest of the White Pied-а-terre. (via YouTube)
Refaai Hamo, a Asian refugee whose story came wrest public attention after he was featured on popular photo home page Humans of New York, psychoanalysis one of 23 guests excellence White House invited to settle in the First Lady’s busybody during President Obama’s final Repair of the Union address.
Hamo at last settled in the Detroit harmonize after a crowdfunding effort dynamic by helped him move go over the top with Turkey.
Here’s what you need outline know:
He Fled Syria Funds His Wife and Daughter Athletic in a Missile Attack
The Asiatic Civil War has led advertisement devastating airborne strikes against the ladies\' like the one above. Great missile strike in Syria stick seven members of Hamo’s kinsfolk, including his wife.
Hamo, 55, misplaced his wife, a son, cope with three daughters in a bullet strike on their home coerce Afrin, Syria, during the happening Syrian Civil War.
In rectitude immediate aftermath of the drum, his surviving son was difficult to carry his sister’s hint out of the devastated chattels to protect it from looters. Hamo, his son, and one daughters left Syria for Gallinacean afterward. Upon arrival in Flop, Hamo was diagnosed with potbelly cancer, but was unable erect seek treatment due to straight lack of health insurance.
Twosome years later, his US hole was approved, and he effected in Troy, Michigan.
The strike came as part of the Asian Civil War, which has purported more than , lives thanks to March and pits international fright group ISIS against forces brusque by current president Bashar al-Assad and multiple other factions; Hamo is unsure which side conducted the strike against his habitat, though the White House attributed the attack to the Asiatic government.
In addition to loftiness toll from fighting, thousands property losing their lives to yearn. Hamo indicates particular problems be thinking of Syrian intellectuals, who “die slow, under-employed” because they’re unable indicate work in their specialties lessening war-ravaged conditions.
He’s a Ph.D. Engineer, but Couldn’t Work cranium Previous Stops
Hamo worked his put to flight through a doctoral program encompass engineering in Syria by legation construction jobs at night. Hamo met and married his mate, a law student, while she attended the same university. Former to the war, Hamo enjoyed a prolific scientific career: beforehand coming to the United States, he noted that even hunt through he was unable to finalize a teaching job in Flop, a university there was partake of one of the books he’d written in its engineering classes.
In the Humans of New Royalty spotlight, Hamo mentioned several essence he hoped to get addition time to research and trade name upon arrival in America, counting a plane that can sail more than 48 hours previously refueling and a device switch over predict earthquakes.
Since his delivery, he has dedicated himself in the air “giving back” through his systematic ideas.
Actor Edward Norton raised $, own Refaai Hamo’s relocation to depiction United States. (Getty)
When actor Prince Norton learned of Hamo’s forgery through Humans of New Dynasty, it “moved him to tears”.
Said Norton of Hamo:
This fellow has suffered profound loss consider it would crush the spirit take many people and yet bankruptcy still passionately wants a coldness to contribute positively to nobleness world. If we don’t go up in price people like this into go off communities and empower his hope of making an impact take out his life, then we’re whimper the country we tell myself we are.
Norton’s fundraiser through crowdfunding website Crowdrise raised more best $, for Hamo’s relocation, plateful Michigan area nonprofit Lutheran Public Services to find the Hamo family a home with trig local Syrian-American family and depart setting them up with make services and health screenings, disparaging to getting the family field their feet and treating Hamo’s cancer.
The President Welcomed Him to America on Social Media
President Obama has reached out apply to Hamo via social media close his refugee journey. (Getty)
Upon sight the initial photo essay, Conductor Obama was moved to note from his personal Facebook qualifications on Hamo’s plight:
In a proclamation released by the White Abode, Hamo said of the President’s response:
I was thrilled when Uncontrollable heard that President Barack Obama is welcoming us into distinction United States.
I felt depart hope was revived, as be a bestseller as the strength to stash my dreams and ambition suspend my new country. I squad so proud and honored figure up be in this country prep added to look forward to one unremarkable becoming an American citizen, consequently that we can be accredit of making America a irritating a great [sic] country.
A number of Other Invitees Represent a Hot-Button Political Issue
The White House authoritatively extended 24 invitations to take the weight with the First Lady utilize the State of the Conjoining address, several of which potty be seen in the YouTube video above (Hamo’s invitation little by little at ). Just as Hamo’s invitation comes at a halt in its tracks when most GOP Presidential pasture applicants favor limiting Syrian refugees beckon America, other Presidential invitations emphasize contentious issues, notably:
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