Many Palestinians living in Iraq were forced to flee to refugee camps after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. They still live in desperate conditions on the Iraq-Syrian border, unable to return to Baghdad or flee to neighbouring countries. Some, however, hav

Ethnic Palestinians but born in Baghdad, Fatin Al-Azaizi and her son Muhammed got caught up in the violence that engulfed Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

For two years they had been living under canvas at the Al-Walid refugee camp, though, of all places, they managed to end up in Iceland.

They have been granted asylum by the Icelandic government and say the locals are doing more for them than they expected.

“They’ve sent our children to school. We have support workers who come and help us and are here with us every step of the way. It’s much more than we ever imagined,” Fatin says.

There are still over 2,000 Palestinians living in limbo, unable to return to Baghdad or cross into neighbouring countries.

Muhammed’s father is still at the Al-Walid camp but he dreams they’ll all unite in Iceland.

“I want my father and his new family to come here to Iceland because it’s not safe in Iraq. We have a good future here and I hope I can make friends fast, as soon as I learn the language,” Muhammed says.

Fatin and Muhammed say they’ve been welcomed and helped in Iceland. They have even been given a house, but they still feel isolated as it’s a very different culture. They can’t speak the local language or English. Yet Iceland is now their future and they’re determined to fit in. Nor are they alone, as there are 27 other Palestinian refugees now living in the Icelandic town of Akranes.

Local authorities are providing them with language courses and teaching them the means to survive through a relocation project led by the UN Refugee Agency.

“We will provide psychological support and whatever comes up, whatever they need, we will try to support them and make them strong and empower them, actually, to live the life they choose themselves,” says Linda Gudrunardottir from UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ relocation project.

In the capital Reykjavik, Muslims are sending out a prayer for their new refugee neighbours.

The Iceland’s only Mosque is catering for the 1,000-strong Muslim population – and now they’re reaching out a helping hand to the Palestinians.

“I hope they will find it good here, and it’s much better than the refugee camp. But I am sure we and the other Icelanders are doing our utmost to make them feel happy here,” says Salmann Tamini, Iceland’s Muslim Association President.

Palestinian route to peace