TOOK A FRIGHTENING TURN FOR A SPARTANBURG COUNTY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND HER FAMILY. NOW HER MOTHER IS TRYING TO GET HELP FROM SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM’S OFFICE. AND ANYONE ELSE WHO CAN GET THEM HOME FROM SYRIA. LEAH PHILLIPS JOINS US IN STUDIO WITH MORE ON THIS STORY. LEAH. NIGEL CARROLL, THIS SPARTANBURG FAMILY IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A DANGEROUS CONFLICT IN SOUTHERN SYRIA. HER MOM TELLS ME IT’S UNEXPECTED AND IT’S TERRIFYING. BUT YOU NEVER THINK IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU. WE HEAR ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME. A NIGHTMARE TURNED REALITY FOR DINA ERICKSON AFTER HER DAUGHTER DESIREE, ALONG WITH DESIREE’S HUSBAND MOHAMMED, AND THEIR 18 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER, WENT OFF THE GRID AFTER RUNNING FROM UNREST IN SYRIA. THE FIGHTING, THE ARTILLERY AND THE TANKS WERE IN THE CITY WHERE THEY WERE IN SWEIDA, AND THAT THEY WERE IN THE BASEMENT OF THE HOME THAT THEY WERE IN, HUNKERED DOWN, TRYING TO BE IN SAFETY. THE FAMILY OF THREE TRAVELED TO SOWETO ON WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE A VACATION, BUT DEADLY CLASHES ERUPTING IN THE CITY QUICKLY CHANGED THAT. BUT THEY FELT LIKE IF THEY COULD AT LEAST GET TO THE THE BORDER, EVEN IF THEY CROSSED ILLEGALLY, THEY WOULD BE MORE SAFE THAN THEY WERE THERE. LAST NIGHT THE FAMILY FLED, TRAVELING TO A LAW SEEKING SAFETY. WHERE WE’RE AT RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THERE’S NOT AN ACTIVE EMBASSY IN SYRIA. WE THEY HAVE NO PLACE OF SAFETY. AND WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. ONCE ABLE TO STAY IN CONTACT VIA WHATSAPP, ERICKSON HAS NOT SPOKEN TO HER DAUGHTER SINCE TWO IN THE MORNING. THE LAST MESSAGES SHE RECEIVED FROM DESIREE STATING WE ARE HERE, WE ARE SAFE. AND FINALLY, THIS WAS SURREAL AND TERRIFYING. YOU HEAR ABOUT IT HAPPENING TO OTHER PEOPLE, BUT IT’S IT’S HOME. WE’RE IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY WHILE FAMILY BACK IN THE U.S. WORKS WITH STATE OFFICIALS TO FIND A SOLUTION. ONE THING IS CERTAINLY CLEAR FOR ERICKSON. WE JUST WANT HIM HOME SAFELY. SENATOR GRAHAM’S OFFICE TELLS US IN A STATEMENT, SAYING IN PART, THAT THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE U.S. EMBASSY IN JORDAN ARE AWARE OF THE FAMILY’S SITUATION AND HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM TO ADVISE THEM ON THE NEXT STEPS. I’VE PUT THE ENTIRE STATEMENT ON
South Carolina assistant principal and family caught in southern Syria conflict
A nightmare turned into reality for a Spartanburg family as they were caught in the middle of conflict in southern Syria. Desiree Gomez, an assistant principal at Lyman Elementary, took a trip to Syria with her husband Mohamad Shokair and 18-month-old daughter Salma. While staying in the city of As Suwayda, a violent clash between government loyalists and Druze militias erupted causing the family to eventually evacuate the city. They sought safety by moving towards the border in Tal Meleh.Dena Erickson, Gomez’s mother, had been keeping in contact through WhatsApp as they drove to Tal Meleh. The last text she received from the family was at 1:46 a.m.Senator Lindsey Graham’s spokeswoman released a statement regarding the situation to WYFF News 4, stating, “Senator Graham’s office is aware of the Shokair family’s case. The State Department and U.S. Embassy in Jordan informed Senator Graham’s office that they are also aware of the Shokairs’ current situation, and have been in touch with them to advise on next steps. “According to the State Department, Syria is currently under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory due to ‘the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage taking, armed conflict, and unjust detention’. We strongly encourage all U.S. citizens to stay up to date and informed on State Department travel advisories when leaving the United States.”
A nightmare turned into reality for a Spartanburg family as they were caught in the middle of conflict in southern Syria.
Desiree Gomez, an assistant principal at Lyman Elementary, took a trip to Syria with her husband Mohamad Shokair and 18-month-old daughter Salma.
While staying in the city of As Suwayda, a violent clash between government loyalists and Druze militias erupted causing the family to eventually evacuate the city. They sought safety by moving towards the border in Tal Meleh.
Dena Erickson, Gomez’s mother, had been keeping in contact through WhatsApp as they drove to Tal Meleh. The last text she received from the family was at 1:46 a.m.
Senator Lindsey Graham’s spokeswoman released a statement regarding the situation to WYFF News 4, stating, “Senator Graham’s office is aware of the Shokair family’s case. The State Department and U.S. Embassy in Jordan informed Senator Graham’s office that they are also aware of the Shokairs’ current situation, and have been in touch with them to advise on next steps.
“According to the State Department, Syria is currently under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory due to ‘the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage taking, armed conflict, and unjust detention’. We strongly encourage all U.S. citizens to stay up to date and informed on State Department travel advisories when leaving the United States.”