The Syrian refugee who dreams of owning a restaurant

In the first of the series, Hannah McNulty speaks to a young mother of three who fled Syria when war broke out.

Walaa Asfar left Idlib with her family to find a safer life far from the country she was born in.

They began their journey in Lebanon, and then after rigorous interviews she, her husband and children were offered refuge in the UK. They have lived in Penrith, in Cumbria, for the last two years.

Walaa is passionate about cooking and dreams of opening her own Middle Eastern style restaurant.

This is her story:

Related:

• Idlib towns and families destroyed as Syrian forces move northward

• 180,000 forced to flee homes as Syrian government makes final push for Idlib

• Assad regime intensifies assault on last Syrian rebel enclave