Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
GV Wire Special: Thafer's Escape from Syria
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 8 years ago on
January 13, 2017

Share

In the next installment of GV Wire’s series on the Syiran crisis, we share the story of Thafer Kashak, a refugee from Homs. Once a thriving businessman, he fled his home country when the Civil War invaded his hometown.

Watch Thafer’s (pronounced ZAH-fer) story as he made a daring trek into Jordan after a 15 hour ordeal in the desert. Hear about the harsh conditions in the Zaatari Refugee Camp and how Thafer decided that this was no place for his family.

Thafer tells of the daring escape out of the refugee camp. Unable to find work while living in Jordan, Thafer received a call of a lifetime from the United Nations, asking him if he would like to be resettled.

Eventually, the Kashak family arrived in Fresno. His children attend local school. His teenage son even took up football. Thafer is appreciative of the peace and freedom living in America provides.

READ/WATCH PART 1: The Syrian Conflict

Writer/narrator: David Taub

Editor: Roe Borunda

DON'T MISS

UCLA Can’t Let Protesters Block Jewish Students From Campus, Judge Says

DON'T MISS

Ukraine’s Surprise Attack Has Forced Russia to Change Plans

DON'T MISS

Californians Will Vote on $18 Minimum Wage. Workers Want $25 and More.

DON'T MISS

Ricardo Lara Deserves Credit for Trying to Solve California’s Home Insurance Crisis

DON'T MISS

Mark Gardner on Giants’ 2014 World Series Title, Why Fresno Turns Out Great Players

DON'T MISS

Presented With Rise in Border Crossings, Kamala Harris Chose a Long-Term Approach to the Problem

DON'T MISS

WHO Declares Mpox Outbreaks in Africa a Global Health Emergency as a New Form of the Virus Spreads

DON'T MISS

What the Republican Party Might Look Like if Trump Loses

DON'T MISS

Vikings QB McCarthy Needs Surgery on Meniscus Tear in Right Knee

DON'T MISS

Japan’s Prime Minister Prepares to Step Down. Why, and What’s Next?

UP NEXT

Mark Gardner on Giants’ 2014 World Series Title, Why Fresno Turns Out Great Players

UP NEXT

Presented With Rise in Border Crossings, Kamala Harris Chose a Long-Term Approach to the Problem

UP NEXT

WHO Declares Mpox Outbreaks in Africa a Global Health Emergency as a New Form of the Virus Spreads

UP NEXT

Japan’s Prime Minister Prepares to Step Down. Why, and What’s Next?

UP NEXT

Ukraine Says It Has Taken More Ground and Prisoners During Its Advance Into Russia Border Region

UP NEXT

Israeli Strikes on Gaza Leave Children Without Parents and Parents Without Children

UP NEXT

After Long Drawn-Out Drama, Parlier Fires City Attorney Costanzo

UP NEXT

Huge Fentanyl Seizures ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ of What’s Coming: Sheriff Zanoni

UP NEXT

Benny Morris Calls Genocide Accusations ‘Absurd’ in Debate with Mehdi Hasan

UP NEXT

Clovis Approves Live-In Terminal Care Facility Over Neighbors’ Objections

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Ricardo Lara Deserves Credit for Trying to Solve California’s Home Insurance Crisis

2 hours ago

Mark Gardner on Giants’ 2014 World Series Title, Why Fresno Turns Out Great Players

3 hours ago

Presented With Rise in Border Crossings, Kamala Harris Chose a Long-Term Approach to the Problem

3 hours ago

WHO Declares Mpox Outbreaks in Africa a Global Health Emergency as a New Form of the Virus Spreads

3 hours ago

What the Republican Party Might Look Like if Trump Loses

4 hours ago

Vikings QB McCarthy Needs Surgery on Meniscus Tear in Right Knee

4 hours ago

Japan’s Prime Minister Prepares to Step Down. Why, and What’s Next?

4 hours ago

Ukraine Says It Has Taken More Ground and Prisoners During Its Advance Into Russia Border Region

4 hours ago

Michigan’s Sherrone Moore Looks Forward to Release of Text Messages in Sign-Stealing Investigation

5 hours ago

Fresno State Foundation Gets $8M Federal Grant to Boost Graduation Rate

5 hours ago

UCLA Can’t Let Protesters Block Jewish Students From Campus, Judge Says

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily barred the University of California, Los Angeles, from allowing protesters to set up encampments that...

1 hour ago

1 hour ago

UCLA Can’t Let Protesters Block Jewish Students From Campus, Judge Says

1 hour ago

Ukraine’s Surprise Attack Has Forced Russia to Change Plans

2 hours ago

Californians Will Vote on $18 Minimum Wage. Workers Want $25 and More.

2 hours ago

Ricardo Lara Deserves Credit for Trying to Solve California’s Home Insurance Crisis

3 hours ago

Mark Gardner on Giants’ 2014 World Series Title, Why Fresno Turns Out Great Players

3 hours ago

Presented With Rise in Border Crossings, Kamala Harris Chose a Long-Term Approach to the Problem

3 hours ago

WHO Declares Mpox Outbreaks in Africa a Global Health Emergency as a New Form of the Virus Spreads

4 hours ago

What the Republican Party Might Look Like if Trump Loses

Search

Send this to a friend