Rachel Kario lived in Skopje with her husband Moni and their two children Rachamim (born 1931) and Rina (born 1936). In early March 1943, the Jewish family was warned of a raid by their friends the Popstefanovs. Fearing deportation, the Karios decided to flee to Albania. They made contact with an employee of the Albanian consulate in Skopje. In return for payment, the Albanian was prepared to take the family out of the city and across the Albanian border. Because their daughter Rina was so young, she was to stay in Skopje to begin with, hidden by a dentist friend. She was recognized on the street soon after and had to return to her parents.
Their escape plan also failed. During the raids in Skopje on March 11, 1943, the family hid in the vineyards. They later found temporary refuge with the Popstefanovs and the Serchadjievs. Eventually, the Karios were able to leave Skopje in secret. They fled across the Albanian border and continued to Tirana. Using forged identity papers, the Karios posed as a Muslim family. A number of Albanians helped them during their escape. The Karios were liberated in Tirana.
