Ben Stiller has expressed his support for refugees fleeing war-torn countries, Syria and Iraq, following a meeting in Berlin. The actor met with families who have had to leave their homes in search of a safe place to settle down, moving him to share kind words about the current crisis.
Ben and his wife Christine met with refugees. Photo: UNHCR
The fifty-year-old's meeting, organised by the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, involved speaking with three families who had to flee their homes because of war.
"Just meeting these families immediately put a human face on this issue. These people have a lot in common with all of us. They are hard-working and educated and really just want the best for their kids’ futures," Ben said.
The actor spent time with the families in Berlin. Photo: UNHCR
Accompanied by his wife, actress Christine Taylor, Ben met young couple Dalal and Najemaldeen, who took the risky decision to leave their home town of Mosul, Iraq, only one month after Dalal had given birth to twin girls.
The desperate parents only packed clothes and milk for their beloved children before finding safety in Berlin.
Nahed and Hassan were also amongst those who came face-to-face with the Zoolander actor. They told of how bombings destroyed their home and businesses, meaning their children could no longer attend school.
Ben met a young couple and their twin girls. Photo: UNHCR
The mother, Nahed, harrowingly described how she was separated from her two young children, Mohammed, eight and five-year-old Mayaar, when they were on a tiny boat heading across the Aegan Sea to Greece.
She is now determined to learn German and build a new life for her family in Berlin. While the last couple, Nadia and Ahmed, aim to keep their 11-year-old son Moustafa safe and get him back into education.
"I can’t imagine having to risk my child’s life on such a dangerous journey just because there are no legal routes to reach safety," Ben said. "Despite having lost everything, they spoke with great dignity and showed us great hospitality. People like Nahed, Dalal and Moustafa are the innocent victims of conflict and really need our support."
