In 2015, Syrian refugee Yasser moved into Today in Focus presenter Helen Pidd’s home. He had travelled for 37 days across land and sea to escape the horrors of the war in Syria. Since then, Yasser has lived in Manchester, but has always longed to return to Syria.

“Sunday morning, 8 December 2024. That was the best morning of my life,” Yasser tells Helen.

“When I heard Assad had gone out, I said: ‘Now we have a homeland.’ Before that, I didn’t feel like I had a homeland.”

After the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Yasser and Helen reunite. They discuss why Yasser was forced to leave Syria, his desire to return and his hopes for the country.

You can read about Yasser and Helen’s time living together here.

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