Youssef — lost during the war in Kandahar, 2009

When the bombs started falling on Kandahar in 2009, my father Youssef and I ran in different directions. That was the last time I saw them. Explosions were so constant we stopped flinching, but we never stopped being afraid. During the siege that cut off all escape routes, Youssef was separated from the rest of us. I remember Youssef as someone who loved to cook traditional dishes for everyone. I cherish the memory of Sunday mornings when the whole family would cook together. There was a brief call in 2019. The Red Cross/Red Crescent had no records. UNHCR tracing turned up nothing. Youssef would now be approximately 26 years old. I would recognize them anywhere — tall, around 6'1", slender, with a warm smile. I've never stopped looking. I never will. If anyone has information about Youssef, I beg you to contact us. Our family scattered across three countries, but we keep searching.