Funeral held for Syrian refugee, 9, struck and killed by bus in Abbotsford, B.C.
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. — The parents of a nine-year-old Syrian refugee who was struck and killed by a bus in British Columbia on Friday thought their children were finally safe when they escaped the civil war in their homeland, says a volunteer who has helped the family.
On Saturday, Hala Albarhoum’s grief-stricken father held her little body, wrapped in a shroud, before placing her into her grave during the burial in Chilliwack that was attended by many community members.
“The amount of turmoil they’ve gone through … we can’t even fathom what it must be like,” said Adnan Bhat, who volunteers with the Abbotsford Islamic Centre.
“They’re trying to gather the strength for the other kids. They are praying a lot for Hala and for the other kids, just for strength to deal with the loss,” said Bhat, who indicated the family has four surviving children.