Red Cross Reunites Family After Four Year Separation- Canadian Red Cross

Red Cross Reunites Family After Four Year Separation

June 12 2008 – It was one of the happiest and longest days of Regine Buzayayo’s life. She spent her morning tracking the flight arrival. The flight had been delayed thirty minutes. Regine, her sister and two young daughters arrived early anyway. Minutes felt like hours while they waited. Regine watched the arrivals gate intensely as she waited for two precious packages to arrive; her two daughters, Sifa and Jocelyne, both of whom she hadn’t seen in four long years.

When the two girls ages 16 and 14 finally emerged, there were screams of joy in the bustling airport. Mother and her two daughters were locked in an embrace with tears streaming down their faces. They were overjoyed and relieved to be together again.

“I’m very grateful to Red Cross,” said Regine.

It has been a long four years for Regine and her family. In June 2004, a conflict in Congo forced Regine, who was pregnant at the time, to flee with her one year old daughter. Her two eldest daughters, then 10 and 12 years old, were at school at the time. Regine found herself in a refugee camp where she discovered that her husband had been killed, but she was unable to get information about the whereabouts of her daughters.

Later that year, Regine and her two youngest daughters arrived in Toronto. She asked the Canadian Red Cross for assistance in locating her daughters. Through the Red Cross’s Restoring Family Links Program, both daughters were found safe and living with a foster family in Bujumbura, Africa.

“It has been very difficult for me to be separated from my daughters for so long,” said Regine. “I am glad they are finally here with me again.”

The Restoring Family Links Program helps Canadians re-establish contact with their immediate family members after separation due to war, internal conflict, or other humanitarian crisis such as a natural disaster. Similarly, individuals in other countries can place inquiries to find relatives in Canada through the network of 187 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies throughout the world.

Each year, Canadian Red Cross staff and volunteers handle over 800 tracing cases. The Red Cross counts on public donations to support the service.

“It is moments like this that make all our hard work worthwhile.” said Radmila Rokic-Pilipovic, Restoring Family Links program coordinator for the Canadian Red Cross. “I am so pleased to see this family finally together again.”

Sifa and Jocelyne are overjoyed to be with the rest of their family who include two sisters who were too young to remember them. They will meet their mother’s new friends and learn of their new life and the opportunities that are ahead. Just days after their arrival, one of the girls will celebrate her birthday. This year, they have much to celebrate and they’ll do it together.

Related Information

Restoring Family Links Program

Red Cross Reunites Family After Four Year Separation

Related Information

Posted June 16, 2008 / Updated: April 19, 2011