'We felt as one again': Family reunites in Winnipeg after 8 years apart
CTV
A family forced to flee Iraq during the Yazidi genocide has finally been reunited in Winnipeg.
A family forced to flee Iraq during the Yazidi genocide has finally been reunited in Winnipeg.
Khalil and Fani Zndnan were separated from their three children after terrorist group ISIS invaded Yazidi communities in northern Iraq in 2014.
In the ensuing chaos, Hawas - who was 18 at the time - and his siblings Khalaf and Suad - who were 12 and 10 - were split from the rest of the family.
"When ISIS attacked our village, everyone was just scrambling to escape as fast as they could," said Hawas.
The three eventually landed at a refugee camp in Germany, where they have lived ever since.
"I was in a situation where I had younger siblings that I had to take care of and if I didn’t do that, then we would all be separated and that would leave me all alone," Hawas said.
The rest of the family ended up in Winnipeg, and for years didn't know if the three siblings were even alive.
