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This article was published 11/7/2016 (1532 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They were chased up a desert mountain by terrorists in Iraq and left to die. On the day of their escape, they just missed being blown to bits by suicide bombers at the airport.

Finally, after many brushes with death and delays, the Yazidi refugees arrived in a safe place Monday night. Around 11 p.m., they landed in Winnipeg, where a boisterous crowd of sponsors, supporters, friends and relatives greeted the weary travellers.

"They’ve never been on a plane before," said Nafiya Naso of Winnipeg, who has rallied the community to sponsor Yazidis since Islamic State terrorists chased 40,000 of them up Mt. Sinjar in Iraq two years ago. Their plight captured the world’s attention and inspired Operation Ezra — a coalition of faith groups led by Winnipeg’s Jewish community that is sponsoring seven Yazidi refugee families to resettle in the city.

Just as they were about to leave Istanbul, Turkish authorities refused to let Salih Elias Naso get on the plane. The 19-year-old, who was separated from his parents in the chaos of Iraq, had the same paperwork as the Naso family he was travelling to Winnipeg with, said disappointed relatives and sponsors at the airport who had expected to welcome him.

The family of Khuder Naso Chalo that was able to leave Turkey arrived to the cheers and tears of about 100 Winnipeg relatives and the family's welcome-sign waving sponsors. The volunteers with Operation Ezra made the Yazidi family cupcakes and had flowers for them and a giant bowl full of candies for the kids.

"We cannot thank each and every one of you enough," an emotional Chalo told the crowd. "We are here tonight because all of you made this possible," he said through an interpreter.

Salih Elias Naso, a 19-year-old separated from his parents, and Khuder Naso Chalom, his wife Munifa Hussein Khalaf and their kids Saood, Ahmed, Abdullah, Aida, Khalid and Roz Naso are the first two families sponsored by Operation Ezra — Hebrew for "help" — to arrive in the city.

They had been languishing in a refugee camp with 25,000 other Yazidis in Midyat, Turkey, when they got word their applications to come to Canada had been approved.

After a 26-hour bus ride to Istanbul, they were expected to leave for Winnipeg on June 28 and arrive in time for Canada Day. They were on their way to Ataturk Airport in Istanbul when suicide bombers attacked, killing at least 44 people and wounding scores more.

Their flight to Canada was delayed and they left Istanbul Sunday night. Naso spoke to her nephew Saood Khudher Naso during their stopover in Frankfurt, Germany.

"They’re very tired but excited," she said.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Khudher Naso Chalo, Munifa Hussein and their family are greeted by relatives and supporters at the Winnipeg airport Monday night after a long journey.

The novice air travellers weren’t expecting their ears to hurt so much when they landed.

"It was very difficult — especially for the younger kids," Naso said.

After all the harrowing experiences they’ve had, they’re in good spirits and relieved to be in a safe place they can finally call home.

"Everything is OK," said Naso, who arrived in Manitoba as a Yazidi refugee with her family when she was a child.

She has a full week of activities planned for the families who will be staying with relatives until they’re ready to move into a home of their own.

Tuesday, Naso will take them to get bank accounts, social insurance numbers and health cards. Later, they will go to Canadian Footwear and the Salvation Army Thrift Store to pick out a pair of shoes and three outfits donated by the retail outlets.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca