FROM THE FIELD
Valentine's Day worked its magic to reunite a couple separated by conflict in Burundi – with more than a little help from the Red Cross. Thierry fled to the UK in 2003 following fierce fighting between the Tutsi and Hutu tribes in Burundi, which neighbours Rwanda. Sadly, he had to leave behind his wife and four children.After contacting the British Red Cross, Thierry was eventually reunited with his wife on Valentine's Day last year."It was the happiest moment of my life," he said. "I thought I had lost her forever and will never forget the work of the Red Cross."In 2004 he made enquiries about his family through the British Red Cross tracing team and learned that his wife had also fled Burundi and was living with their children in a refugee camp in Tanzania.He was able to contact his family via the camp telephone and the tracing case was closed.It was the happiest moment of my life.Thierry, reunited with his wife through British Red CrossHowever, in 2006 Thierry lost contact again with his wife, as it appeared she had left the camp. He started to make enquiries within the Burundi community in London. Thierry feared the worst, as he knew that while conditions in the camp were far from ideal, his wife and children were at least safe.On 28 January 2007, Thierry approached the British Red Cross again with information that his wife may be living in Manchester.Two days later his wife also approached the Red Cross in Manchester and submitted an enquiry to trace Thierry.Tracing success in UKLove must have been in the air as the couple were reunited just weeks later on 14 February. They now live together – hopefully, happily ever after – in Peterborough.One of the Red Cross tracing team recalls: "He came into the office to introduce his wife and thank us for our work in tracing her. It was a wonderful moment, to come face to face with his wife after three years of tracing work. There were tears in everyone's eyes that day." [Thierry's name has been changed to protect his identity]Find out more about Red Cross tracing services[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
