Mother and daughter reunite after 10 years

When Negisti Kurban was forced to flee her native Eritrea, she was also forced to leave behind her three-year-old daughter, Hermon. Fearing that military forces would find her daughter and take her from her, Negisti hid Hermon with her parents, and for the past ten years the girl was raised by her grandparents in Sudan.
 
After living for several years as a refugee in Malta, Negisti was approved for resettlement in the United States and in August of 2009 stepped off the plane in Tucson. Yet her relief of finding sanctuary in Tucson was shadowed by her longing for her daughter. With help from the IRC in Tucson’s Immigration staff, Hermon was approved for resettlement in Tucson.  On the evening of Nov. 6, 2012, Negisti waited anxiously at the airport for the plane carrying Hermon to arrive, watched her exit through the airport security gates and for the first time in 10 years, was finally able to hold her daughter in her arms.
 
Back to IRC Tucson Main Page