Fatuma continues to work towards reuniting her family. Watch the next update on her story on The Project, Channel 10, TONIGHT, Monday 22 June 2015, at 6.30pm.
UPDATE: On Friday, 23 January 2015, Fatuma was finally reunited with her son, Saacid, in Hagadera refugee camp, Kenya after 23 years apart. This reunion was only made possible because thousands of Australians raised just over $20,000 to get Fatuma and her youngest son, Abshir, there, where they will spend a month together with Saacid.
When we spoke with Fatuma in Kenya, over the phone, she sounded so animated and repeatedly told us how lucky and excited she is, and how she wishes to thank each and every person in the Australian community who has made this reunion with her son possible.
Fatuma conveyed such a vivid and incredibly poignant image of the moment she set eyes on Saacid when she saw him waiting for her on her arrival at the camp after the 10 hour bus trip from Nairobi. She recognized him immediately, despite the extraordinary amount of time that they have been separated.
Fatuma described how her son, this proud young man who has patiently waited to be reunited with his mother, has been presenting her to every one they meet, asking "Have you met my Mum…this is my Mum!"
UPDATE: On Friday 23 January 2015, Fatuma was finally reunited with her son, Saacid, in Hagadera refugee camp, Kenya, after 23 years apart....
A text from her youngest son states:
"Mum arrived in Hagadera (refugee camp) and she is fine and she finally meets Saacid. She cry because Saacid is changed ....he was a little boy and now he is a big man"
This reunion is only possible because of all of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Jane & Joan
It is with great sadness that we tell you Abdi passed away at dawn on Sunday, 2 November. He looked peaceful and was surrounded by most of his family, but unfortunately Saacid wasn't there with him.
Fatuma is now desperately hoping to fly to Kenya to comfort her son, and we have launched a fundraising campaign to try to get her there. If you have a few dollars to spare, the family would be so very thankful for your help. You can securely donate here:
https://chuffed.org/project/please-help-reunite-a-mother-and-son-after-23-years-apart
Dear Minister Morrison,
We urge you to use your discretionary powers as Australia's Immigration Minister to expedite a remaining relative visa for Saacid, whose father Abdi is dying of terminal liver cancer in Darwin. They have not seen each other for 23 years.
With a prognosis of no more than 3 months to live, Abdi's last dying wish is to set his eyes upon his long-lost son Saacid and say goodbye. The last time Abdi and his wife Fatuma saw their son was 23 years ago when Saacid was just 9 years old. They lost one another while fleeing war torn Somalia.
In 2007, the family were miraculously reconnected via telephone when the Red Cross found Saacid living in the world's largest refugee camp in Kenya. Abdi and Fatuma applied for a last remaining relative visa for Saacid and have been waiting in line patiently for four years. Abdi and Fatuma have done all the right things, but time is running out. We plead with you to expedite Saacid's visa so that a dying father may see and know his son.
