Refugee Family Beats the Odds to Make a Home in Southern Minnesota

Sixteen years in a refugee camp. This was the life of Abdi and Sahra. Abdi and Sahra fled Somalia in 2006 when violence in their country forced them to flee to Egypt. What was meant to be a place of refuge turned into a time of survival and stagnation as they found themselves as refugees in Egypt waiting to be resettled for over 16 years. In this time they had four children all born without a “home” — refugees waiting for something better.

The family of six finally got their chance a new life in December 2022, when their refugee application was finalized. And they beat the odds. Less than 1% of refugees who apply for resettlement in the US are approved and resettled. Our Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program staff happily welcomed them to their new “home” in southern Minnesota.