Eva Dumani left Albania with her father as a child, at the age of 8, and today, 12 years later, at the age of 20, she returned to her homeland after staying in the camps in Syria.
In 2020, Eva's brother, Endri, was able to be repatriated.
The uncle's efforts to return his niece to her homeland, after her father lost his life, were fulfilled only 6 years after Endri's return.
Xhetan Ndregjoni had managed to smuggle Eva into Turkey illegally and had to overcome the final hurdle, so that the Turkish police would not consider this act a criminal act and allow her to come to Albania.
The Albanian Ambassador to Turkey, Blerta Kadzadej, in a link to 'Top Story', recounted the entire process of Eva's repatriation from Syria. The Ambassador has shown for the first time that Rama and Erdogan themselves have had a personal attention and interest in Eva's story.
"When a notification is received that an Albanian citizen has entered Turkey illegally, all protocols must be implemented, including that of repatriation. It is about crossing the border illegally. I want to say that for this return, repatriation of Eva, in addition to all diplomatic efforts and cooperation, there was a personal attention and interest from Rama and Erdogan. Because for the first time we received a notification from a kidnapped girl at the age of 8. We have also witnessed Eva's brother, whom we have brought out of hell.
I believe that the Albanian authorities have data on a certain number of Albanians who are still in Syria. I do not know the exact number, the police and the anti-terrorist directorate are involved. But I would say that, in case these citizens who remained there want to return to Albania, their families should contact the Albanian authorities.
"I did not meet Eva in person, because she was 500 km away from Ankara and, due to the complexity of this process, we could not meet her even for a photo," said Blerta Kadzadej.