(Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina) - All the cats living inside the temporary reception centre in Ušivak, near Sarajevo, are gathered in front of a container, that Farhad and Fariba call home. When the doors are opened, the cats eagerly approach the married couple, knowing that it is time to be fed and pampered. Coming from Iran, the couple feel comforted in knowing that these furry friends have made the centre home just like they have, as they dutifully guard the doors of their human companions.

Though it may not be a traditional home, the cats are content with the simplicity of the reception centre. Farhad and Fariba have managed to create a sense of belonging amongst the containers as they reminisce about their lives in Iran since they were forced to flee seven years ago. In Iran, Farhad was a skilled and a respected craftsman who made musical instruments and chandeliers, while Fariba worked as a laboratory technician. Farhad's love for classical Persian music often leads him to sing for those around him. "We fled Iran due to the intolerable security situation, and we've been keeping each other safe through thick and thin. That shared bond is our home, no one can take it away from us," they say with smiles as they set up chairs and a makeshift table outside their container a comforting gesture to warmly invite everyone to join them for tea. Farhad's kind heart reaches out to all, as he welcomes both the centre's residents and employees as he offers biscuits and dates.  

Like many others on the move, the couple's migration journey to a safer future has been long and marked by difficult choices.  

"My mother was still alive when we left Iran, but she passed away a few months after we left," Fariba explains, tears welling up, as she recalls memories of a former life. As the journey to safety progressed, the family faced financial difficulties, forcing the family into making a heart-wrenching decision, to break the bond and separate soon after departing Iran. Their son, daughter-in-law, and grandson continued their journey without their beloved parents but succeeded in making it to Belgium, with renewed hope for a better life and the dream of soon reuniting with Farhad and Fariba. 

"It felt like a part of me was still in Iran, with my body detached in a far distant land. My soul is still there to this day. But even though we currently live in this container, it's our whole life. We are comfortable, we are at peace, and we feel safe. Without peace, nothing else matters," Farhad reflects. 

The couple's world revolves around their son, daughter-in-law, and grandson in Belgium. They are the first thing they think about when they awake in the morning and last thing at night when they rest their weary heads. Thanks to technology, they stay regularly connected and pray for each other's well-being and the day that they are finally reunited. But after six months in Bosnia and Herzegovina, they are running out of strength, and it pales in comparison to the six and a half years they endured in reception centres in Serbia. 

"We spent over six years in Serbia, and it may sound like a short time, but it felt like an eternity," Farhad states. "Now, we are struggling to find the strength to carry on, both mentally and physically.," Fariba shares with the stress clearly etched on a face that has faced many challenges since leaving home. She aches for her grandson who is settling into life in Belgium and excelling at school.   

Suffering from asthma and diabetes and in her older years, Fariba relies on her courage, resilience, and the thought of reuniting with her grandson to keep her going, despite her deteriorating health.  

"We either go together or not at all," Farhad says as he lovingly embraces Fariba. They have been happily married for 40 years and have supported each other through thick and thin. "She was my rock during my recovery after being wounded during the war between Iran and Iraq. I was left disabled, suffering from acute PTSD, but she gave me the strength to carry on. Now, I will carry her, with our greatest wish, yet to be granted to hug our son, daughter-in-law, and grandson and see them thrive," Farhad explains as Fariba shows a beautiful sweater that she knitted for her grandson's toy before they parted ways. 

The couple's resilience and determination to reach their loved ones is a reminder of the struggles and sacrifices that many migrants face. Support, assistance, and access to mental health services are crucial at each step of a migrants’ journey, which is often laden with uncertainty and exposure to danger. The story of Farhad and Fariba serves as a testament to the strength of love, family bonds, and the enduring nature of the human spirit, even in the face of adversity. Their journey highlights the need for more compassionate and effective solutions to assist migrants who are fleeing conflict to ensure their safety and well-being but to also recognize the positive contributions that migrants can make in their new homelands. 

Written by M. Balić.