Nidal Zakam Al Harith

Nidal Zakam Al Harith , 37

Nidal fled the Syrian civil war in 2013. He settled in Mersin (Turkey), where he began to work hard to ensure a decent life for his family and children, left behind in Syria.

In July 2023, as Turkey was imposing restrictions and repatriations on Syrian residents, he decided to attempt the journey to Europe, together with some cousins and other people.

The journey, however, proved difficult and exhausting. At one point Nidal decided to turn back, he felt he could no longer continue. He communicated his decision to his fellow travellers, so he was abandoned near the village of Fakia on July 12, 2023.

A team from the Collettivo was in Bulgaria during those months: they received the signal a few weeks later. On August 29, the team went to the location to at least look for traces, but nothing was found.

The family has done everything: they contacted the local authorities, major humanitarian organizations in the area, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior and the Hospital of Burgas. His brother, who lives in Germany, even sent a copy of his DNA, but he received no response.