http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2015-02-21/article-4051899/Longlost-daughter-mother-to-reunite-in-week-or-two/1
Long-lost daughter, mother to reunite in week or two
Barb Sweet
Published on February 21, 2015
Girl who went missing in Libya is coming to Canada
Genet Abraham sobbed and raised her hands in the air in gratitude Friday in the tiny living room of her west end St. John’s apartment while a group of journalists watched.
A voice heard on a landline handset cried out, “Oh my God!”
The voice was Abraham’s daughter, Selam Measho, 20, who last saw her mother more than four years ago when she left a refugee camp in Libya to sell bread at a market.
Measho never came home. Her father went looking for her every day, and disappeared two months later.
Abraham and two young daughters— Milka, now 13, and Feban, now 8 — made it to Canada in 2013.
But the family was down two souls since fleeing Eritrea in East Africa.
One soul was reunited in spirit Dec. 3 when Measho was located in a town located two hours outside Amsterdam, Holland, through missing posters after a clue came from the Red Cross she might be there. She is believed to have been abducted or led to Holland by a woman who told her that her family was dead.
Friday, news came that Measho will get a temporary visa and can get a one-way ticket to St. John’s, as soon as some documentation is forwarded to the Canadian consulate in Vienna, Austria.
“Oh my God. I can’t believe it. I am so happy. Thank you for everything,” Measho said. “I can’t wait.”
Although almost everyone knew the news which broke Friday morning, friends had tried to keep it secret from Abraham, who speaks little English, and Measho, who is more fluent, until a 3 p.m. phone call.
Abraham, however, knew there was important news coming and wore a traditional celebrational outfit.
With a few glitches calling Measho, family friend Susan Glynn had her on the landline speaker and St. John’s South Liberal MHA Tom Osborne had Liberal MP Gerry Byrne on his cellphone speaker from Ottawa.
At the end of the phone calls, Measho hugged Osborne.
“I don’t even want to remember all the past negative things right now. I am really happy,” Abraham told the media through interpreter Hagos Fessehaye.
She thanked everyone who helped her with the case and explained when she first came to St. John’s she took language classes, but had problems with her eyes. Eventually, she was able to make friends and ask for help finding her daughter, who could arrive here in a week to two weeks.
Byrne said the thorough way documentation and evidence was put together helped the case, but the fact it took weeks rather than months or longer is unprecedented among the immigration matters he’s been involved with over the years.
Byrne had approached Immigration Minister Chris Alexander after Osborne got him involved.
Byrne explained that a Dutch travel permit for Measho has to be couriered to Austria and then she will get her travel documents, but the case has passed medical and security checks.
“There’s one more leg of your family’s dream for reunification,” he said.
While Osborne advocated and friends helped gather and file documents, Byrne said the real credit goes to Abraham and Measho for “your undying and enduring love.”
Abraham’s husband, Measho Tsfaslasse, remains missing.
To watch a video of Friday events, click HERE.
http://video.thetelegram.com/4073079983001/Reunion
Received on Sat Feb 21 2015 - 05:38:35 EST