New York – Dr. Refaai Hamo, the Syrian refugee who was invited to U.S. President Obama’s Final State of the Union Address (SOTU) on Tuesday night, has arrived in The White House.
The White House official Facebook page posted a picture of Dr. Hamo who is standing on one side of The White House’s front lawn at his arrival.
American organization Humans of New York (HONY), which met with the Syrian refugee while in Turkey, captioned the photograph.
“Dr. Hamo just arrived at the White House for a reception before attending the State of the Union tonight. It’s been a bit surreal reconnecting under these circumstances, since the last time I saw him was during our initial interview in Istanbul. It’s been great catching up,” HONY wrote.
“While he’s honored to be representing refugees tonight, he wishes foremost to be seen as a scientist, and hopes that soon he will be known more for his work than his refugee status,” the organization added.
According to the same source, Refaai Hamo recently had surgery to remove a “large benign tumor” from his stomach. He is also a stomach cancer survivor.
The White House official Facebook page announced on Sunday, “We’ve invited people from around the country who represent the progress we’ve made over the past seven years to come watch it from the guest box.”
According to The White House press release, Dr. Hamo arrived in Detroit, Michigan last December 18 after fleeing Syria and spending two years in Turkey.
A Syrian government missile destroyed Hamo’s complex killing his wife, one of his daughters and five other relatives.
President Obama was touched by Hamo’s compelling story and wrote him, “Welcome to your new home. You’re part of what makes America great.”
Dr. Hamo represents the lives and challenges of all Syrian refugees around the world. Tonight, he will witness one of the most prestigious and important events where few are invited.
The Obama Administration has chosen to honor Dr. Hamo and the refugee community in accordance with the true values of the United States.
