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Habteab’s Story

by: Habteab, an Eritrean refugee in Belgium

“Hello, my name is Habteab.

In 2012 I got married and a year later our oldest son was born. But because of my political beliefs, I wasn’t safe in my country and I had to leave. My wife was 7 months pregnant with our second son when I left the country. After a very long journey, I arrived in Belgium in February 2018.

In Eritrea I had a degree in agro- and biotechnology. I was working as a teacher. Now in Belgium, I am learning Dutch. As soon as my Dutch is good enough, I want to study to become a nurse.

I am kind of an introvert; I don’t have a lot of friends in Belgium yet, so it was really hard for me to be here without my family.

When we got the news that they had received the visa, we did not have the money to buy plane tickets. Luckily Miles4Migrants wanted to help me with tickets. My children are now 6 and 4 years old and this morning I met my youngest son or the first time. Words can not explain how I felt when I could finally hold them in my arms. I counted the days for years until this moment.

We are very grateful for the help we received from Miles4Migrants. You brought my family back together after all these years. Here, we are finally free and my children can get good education.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

How Miles4Migrants helps

We collaborate with a network of global non-governmental organization (NGO) partners who work directly with refugees and migrants to identify and verify individuals who are financially unable to afford air travel. Once our partners submit flight requests, we use donated frequent flyer miles, credit card points, travel vouchers, and cash to eliminate transportation barriers for the most vulnerable individuals affected by war, persecution, or climate disaster. Our goal is to help these individuals reunite with their loved ones and start a new life in a safe environment.

Learn more about us in our FAQ

Support our work

– According to the United Nations, there are currently 108 million individuals forcibly displaced from their homes worldwide.  

– The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that seeking asylum is a fundamental human right. Everyone has the right to life and liberty. Everyone has the right to freedom from fear. Everyone has the right to seek asylum from persecution.

As migration is often the last option for survival, migrants may embark on clandestine journeys, subject to danger, extortion, and inhumane conditions

Once they finally get legal approval for resettlement, migrants face another challenge that makes the journey seem impossible: the transportation costs.

There are many ways for you to get involved and help us continue our work:

You can donate cash to help us cover operational expenses or contribute your unused air miles, credit card points, or travel vouchers to help us book flights for refugees and asylum seekers. Additionally, you can help us spread the word about our cause and our impact on the lives of those we serve.

Every donation, no matter how big or small, has the power to make a difference. Thank you for considering supporting our mission.

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