What does it mean to save lives?

In the aftermath of a harrowing war in his cherished homeland, Iraq, Dr Rasheed Fakhri found himself at a crossroads. To stay or to flee. Little did he know that this uncertain path would lead him to serve his fellow Iraqis for nearly 17 years, far from the familiar streets of home. 

This is the story of his unchartered journey with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), where his dedication and compassion played a pivotal role in reshaping lives amidst the chaos of post-war Iraq. 

From growing up in war-torn Afganistan and refugee camps in Pakistan to studying medicine at Britain’s Cambridge University and becoming an NHS doctor, Dr Waheed Arian’s inspirational life story is a testament to the remarkable contributions refugees make to the their new home countries. 

Born in war-torn Afghanistan, Waheed Arian’s first memories are of bombs. His first-hand experience of the power of medicine inspired him to dedicate his life to healing others. But how does a boy with nothing, hope to become a doctor in the National Health Service? Stephen Fry has described ’In the Wars’ by Dr. Waheed Arian as ‘a thrilling and absorbing read from first to last. What a life and what an inspiration.’