George Najarian arrived in Australia two years ago after fleeing from Syria in 2015, following the bombing of his sister's school.
“I lost my father 10 years ago and I came to tell my mum what had happened,” he told SBS News.
“She said to me ‘I lost my husband and I can’t lose my children’. That’s why we made the decision to move. "
Mr Najarian made it to Lebanon where he had to wait to be approved for a humanitarian visa for Australia.
He described the years spent waiting there as fighting a "psychological war" within himself.
“Every day you are struggling, you are not knowing your future,” Mr Najarian said.
“That situation that it puts you in - to not know what’s going to happen even the next day. It kills you every day.”
He applied for a humanitarian protection visa three times before he was eventually granted one in 2017 - a day he calls the best day of his life
There are more than 29.4 million forcibly displaced asylum seekers and refugees around the world. Source: AAP
“I cried. I cried for 10 minutes,” he said.
“The tears that were coming from me, they were just from happiness because finally, I knew I’m going to be in a safe city, in a safe country. That there is no one behind me who wants to kill me.
“That’s the most important feeling.”
Despite the toll, he counts himself as one of the lucky ones
“I have a few friends that came to Australia on insecure visas and believe me they have the fear that one day they’re going to lose their visa and they’re going to be deported back,” he said.
“At least now I know I am safe and I can focus on my life but for them, it’s not like that.
“They’re not secure, they don’t know if they’re going to live in Australia or if they’re going to be deported.”
There are more than around the world, according to the latest figures - but less than 1 per cent of them have been .
Refugees without permanent visas can experience a prolonged sense of insecurity and displacement, according to new research. Source: Getty Images
New research from UNSW shows those living in this state of limbo compared to refuges with more secure or permanent, visas.
That’s why Mr Najarian said he volunteers with the Red Cross now - he’s been helped by other people’s goodwill and now he wants to pass that on.
“When I was back in Syria Red Cross was the only organisation helping people regardless of their religion, regardless of their political opinions,” he said.
Syrian Red Cross workers in Madaya about 24 kilometers northwest of Damascus. George Najarian now volunteers with the aid organisation. Source: AP
“When I came to Australia I wanted to give back to this beautiful organisation that helped me and helped my family and lots of people back in Syria.”
He said life is "incredible" now with his family and the security of a permanent visa: “I have a beautiful life".
“I got engaged, I have a beautiful fiance, and every day I try to give back," he said.
“I am grateful to be in this beautiful country, this country gave me the opportunity to start my life back.”
