Kurdish ex-refugee repays Germany by helping flood victims

Zana Ali, 27, speaks to villagers in flood-hit western Germany, July 2021. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Zana Ali, 27, speaks to villagers in flood-hit western Germany, July 2021. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Among the many rescue workers and volunteers helping Germans after the recent devastating floods is a Kurdish man who felt compelled to repay the country that was his safe haven two decades ago.

Catastrophic floods brought on by unprecedented rainfall hit parts of western Germany earlier this month, leaving hundreds of people dead and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. Soon, the flooding hit Belgium and the Netherlands. In total, more than 180 people were killed.

One of the hardest-hit regions of German was mountainous Eifel, located in the west near the Belgium border. The area also borders the Rhine and Moselle rivers, whose water levels rose dangerously high, causing devastating floods.

Zana Ali is a Kurdish man from Hasakah province in northeast Syria, known among Kurds as Rojava, or West. Ali, 27, arrived in Germany in the early 2000s after his father was forced to flee Syria due to his affiliation with Kurdish political movements.

The former refugee is now a German citizen and the owner of multiple kiosks in Aachen, where he sells snacks and refreshments. 

“I saw on TV how people’s homes were devastated by the floods and they had no water to drink or shower,” Ali told Kurdistan 24. 

Zana Ali is pictured while speaking to Kurdistan 24 in Germany in July 2021. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)
Zana Ali said he wanted to repay Germans for the hospitality they gave his family two decades ago. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Soon, Ali packed his car with all the essential needs, including bottled water, clothes, food, and diapers, to people in need in Arloffer village, one of the hardest-hit places in the region.

Ali said villagers told him they had lost everything, even their money and mobile phones.

Germany is home to a substantial number of Kurds, many who fled Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey over political persecution or constant war and turmoil.

By offering his assistance, Ali hopes to pay back some of the generosity and hospitality Germans gave him and his family 20 years ago.

“Today is our turn to extend our helpful hand to them,” Ali said.

 Kawa Mohammad Amin contributed to this report from Germany.