A young Afghan boy who survived a Taliban attack that killed his parents and siblings is settling into his new life in Canada with the help of relatives who arranged to bring him out of the war-torn country.
A day after a throng of relatives and well-wishers greeted him at Pearson Airport as he arrived from Afghanistan, two-year-old Abuzar Ahmad spent his first full day in his new Toronto home Thursday.
Abuzar has been welcomed with open arms by aunts, uncles, cousins and supporters, just weeks after he witnessed the fatal shooting of his parents, older brother and sister in Kabul.
In March, Abuzar was with his family eating dinner in an upscale restaurant located in a hotel when Taliban militiamen opened fire.
His father, believed to have been the gunmen’s target, was a prominent Afghan journalist working for a French publication. A total of nine people were killed.
Abuzar, the family’s lone survivor, was also wounded -- he was discovered in a pile of rubble after being shot four times, including once in the head.
“A bullet hit his head but … fortunately, thanks to God, it didn’t go inside,” said his uncle Bashir Mirzad.
Doctors feared Abuzar wouldn’t survive, but after extensive surgeries they say he is making a remarkable recovery.
Immediately after the tragic shooting, Abuzar’s Canadian family members travelled to Afghanistan to be by his side.
One of Abuzar’s uncles said he stayed with the boy for a week before returning home to make arrangements to bring his nephew to Canada.
The joy of Abuzar’s recovery has been tinged with the sadness of his immense loss. After three days in a coma, he woke up and asked for his mother.
“He does miss his parents a lot,” said cousin Frozan Rais. “He calls out their names all the time. He cries after his sister, his brother.”
As Abuzar continues to recover from his wounds, his relatives have hopes for a bright future ahead.
“I feel like he’s coming to a better place,” a 10-year-old cousin said.
With a report from CTV News’ John Vennavalley-Rao
