Three people who found safety in the UK visited Parliament last week to speak about why we need more safe routes for refugees. Waeed, Amir and Mohanad shared their experiences with politicians, making some important suggestions.
Waeed
Waeed is from Syria. She suggests more resettlement to bring people in danger directly to the UK.
“I never imagined I’d be a refugee one day. I had a really good life in Syria, I worked as a primary school teacher. The war started, it was a shock – is this really happening? I lost my brother in a horrific way, and many relatives.”
Waeed is from Syria. "It would be really helpful to bring more people by resettlement."
“My husband and I fled to Jordan, but life in the camp was very hard, and we risked deportation back to Syria. I know many families who were deported back and killed when they reached the border.
We were selected for resettlement to the UK, they picked only a few families. I remember the first moment the aeroplane landed – finally I felt safe. I was crying, actually.
It would be really helpful to bring more people by resettlement – it’s the safe way to bring people here.”
Amir is from Afghanistan and wants to see more family reunion.
Amir
“It’s really hard to leave everything behind. In Afghanistan I was working as a journalist, a videographer. Those five days at the airport in Kabul – you can’t imagine.
In the UK I was staying in a hotel. I lost hope. You’re like a child who can walk but not talk. I was homeless for a month. No one loves to leave their motherland.
Family separation is really hard – we’d really love to be together. This issue means a lot for all of us.”
Mohanad is from Sudan and wants safer ways to claim asylum.
Mohanad
“I was a medical student in Sudan. Being a doctor was my dream, but I faced a lot of discrimination. I took part in demonstrations, we were asking for our rights. Then I was arrested. I didn’t want to leave my country. Every corner has details of my life.
My journey to the UK was horrific. I claimed asylum.
After I left, in the war that has now started, a lot of my family were killed. They went to my house and they destroyed everything, even the trees.
We haven’t had any scheme to help refugees from Sudan. I’m here to speak about education and mental health issues for refugees.”
Lou Calvey is a specialist on asylum and refugee issues. “The British public want to help refugees”, she said. “People do support refugees – every day! We need to be bold, we can do a lot better.”
Waeed, Amir and Mohanad arrived in the UK in different ways, and agree that safe routes are vital to help reduce dangerous journeys. They spoke to the APPG Refugees enquiry on safe routes on 20th May. We hope the next government will listen to their advice – the enquiry will release a report after the General Election in July.
