Khel, 41, narrowly escaped death when she was just 18 living in Kabul, Afghanistan. She and her mum had set out to go shopping, they only got to the end of the driveway when they heard a great crashing sound.
They turned around to see their home had been destroyed by a rocket, Khel told the Herald through a translator.
"Everything was burning in the house. Even the trees were burning.
"If we were there, we would have died."
That was the final straw for Khel's family who then snuck over the border to Pakistan. It took 15 days of travelling day and night by car and donkey. When the path was too narrow for the donkey they got off and walked. Khel teared up as she remembered the harrowing and exhausting journey.
When she got to Pakistan they lived in a refugee camp near the capital city Islamabad. They stayed there for 16 years.
"The refugee camp was very difficult. When we got there our house was like a tent."
It was at the camp that Khel was wed through an arranged marriage. It was only after the marriage she realised her husband had mental health issues.
The couple had three children and Khel worked at the refugee hospital as a nurse aid.
Khel's husband died four years ago after he developed foot cancer. The doctors amputated his leg up to his thigh. Nine months after the operation he experienced a complication and his health quickly went downhill. He died the day after they took him home.
Traditionally this meant Khel should get married to one of her brothers-in-law, but she didn't want to. At the same time the hospital director had alerted United Nations staff to Khel's predicament and they selected her for resettlement in New Zealand.
Khel was over the moon but had to keep it a secret in case her in-laws thwarted her plans.
"I was very excited and happy. I kept it secret from the children as I didn't want something to go wrong.
"Traditionally it was not appropriate for women to go out without a husband.
"When I got the [plane] tickets I told my in-laws I was taking them [the children] to the hospital. Then we left. Only the hospital staff knew."
Since moving to New Zealand Khel has been overwhelmed by the warm, respectful welcome. For Khel, who is taking English lessons, the language is a struggle but her children, now aged 8, 14 and 16 are almost fluent.
Madina, 14, wants to be a doctor so she can help people, and that's what her dad wanted to be before he died.
Khel said she now has hopes and dreams for her future. She's intent on giving her children the best education they can get so they can grow up and give back to New Zealand in return for the support they had received.
The Red Cross are currently looking for more mentors who will be fully trained in the use of a dual-controlled car and teach a former refugee for 12-16 weeks so they can apply for their restricted licence. Mentors will need to have had their full licence for over two years and be able to commit to three hours of volunteering a week, said Rosemine Mutamuliza, Red Cross humanitarian services co-ordinator.
"Having a driver's licence is a tangible thing you can do to reduce social isolation, increase social connection and employment opportunities."
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