Refugee Stories Project - Access to the EU

Fernando

editor — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:39:30 +0100

Summary

Fernando, a Colombian writer came to Spain as part of a resettlement program run by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). He talks about trying to start his life again, and the isolation that he and many asylum seekers he met experienced.

Body

Fernando was living as a refugee in Ecuador when his persecutors from Colombia found him and beat him. He ended up in hospital, with three broken ribs, unable to talk, and almost blind. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) asked him to resettle in Spain, or in Cananda. He chose Spain because of the language, and soon found himself on a plane to Madrid.

When he arrived at the airport, the police told him, 'You have a valid passport, you can go'. But he had nowhere to go. From there began his struggle to find a new life for himself in Spain. With the help of NGOs he was assigned a flat with some asylum seekers - not recognised refugees like himself in Gerona. Here he lived with people from all over the world, and experienced at first hand the uncertainty in which they were living while they were waiting for their claims to be processed. One of his flatmates - a young man from Chechenya - committed suicide and another one from Senegal could not wait to flee to another country.

He is now living in his own flat. He is grateful for the support of the goverments and NGOs, but still feels vulnerable.

"I put on a mask, I never talked about myself, but the documents I have showed everyone that I was a refugee, a word that most people relate to crime. Sometimes I think it would be better to say that I am an undocumented migrant."

Links 1

Resettlement

Links 2

Links 3

Links 4

Links 5

Majidi

editor — Fri, 25 May 2007 08:42:49 +0100

Summary

Majidi is a refugee in Hungary, originally from Afghanistan. He fled war in his native country, poverty in Pakistan, and intimidation by soldiers in Turkey. He speaks eight languages, including Hungarian, and now feels settled in Hungary.

Body

Majidi is from Afghanistan, and has been living as a refugee in Hungary since 2004. His family fled the fighting in their home country, and tried to find a future in Pakistan. Poverty and lack of opportunity then drove Majidi to make his way to Europe.

When he arrived in Hungary, he did not intend to stay there, thinking that there would be more opportunities in Western Europe. But he now sees his future in Hungary, where through the kindness of friends and using his linguistic skills he has a job that he enjoys.

“I like reading, and going to the cinema or dancing. It depends on the company, I don’t want to offend anyone, I can fit in.”

Links 1

Border Controls

Links 2

ECRE

Links 3

Links 4

Links 5

Hadish

editor — Fri, 3 Nov 2006 17:15:12 +0000

Summary

Hadish fled Eritrea after being imprisoned for campaigning for a democratic constitution. He crossed the Mediterranean sea when he failed to find protection in neighbouring African countries and was detained on arrival in Malta.

Body

Hadish loves his country very much. As he talks about the beauty and riches of Eritrea, it is clear he feels it would be much too dangerous to return in the current political climate.

"I was very lucky, because I managed to survive here in Malta - the rest of my friends that were detained with me [in Eritrea], some lost their life; others no one knows their whereabouts."

Hadish will not rest until there is stability in Eritrea but he is patient. Until he can return, he does what he can to support his family, he looks out for fellow nationals and he works tirelessly to raise awareness about the problems asylum seekers are facing in Malta.

His experience of being detained as an asylum seeker shocked him, but the reactions he has encountered since he was released have troubled him even more.

Links 4

Links 5

Zoja

editor — Fri, 3 Nov 2006 15:59:06 +0000

Summary

Zoja and her daughter escaped the Chechen-Russian conflict in 1994 and were granted asylum in the Czech Republic in 2003.

Body

Zoja left Chechnya in December 1994 only days before Russian troops occupied Grozny. After five years of temporary refuge in the neighbouring Russian republic and several months in the United Arab Emirates, she finally sought asylum in the Czech Republic. Zoja and her youngest daughter were granted refugee status after three and a half years of uncertainty.

She now speaks fluent Czech, works part-time in a museum and is actively involved in volunteering.She describes "the matters of adaptation" and barriers to integration she has encountered over the years.

Links 1

ECRE Chechen Guidelines

Links 2

NRC report: protection

Links 3

NRC report: return

Links 4

Memorial report: situation of Chechens in Russian Federation

Links 5

Solomon

editor — Thu, 2 Nov 2006 17:32:17 +0000

Summary

In his late fifties, Solomon escaped political imprisonment in Ethiopia 13 years ago. He eventually found himself in Malta, where he was detained for eight months and has since been denied refugee status.

Body

As a member of the opposition party in Ethiopia, Solomon was imprisoned twice without charge. After managing to escape from prison, he fled first to Somalia and then found work in the United Arab Emirates, sending his earnings home to support a wife, three children and his father. But he had no legal status and when he was expelled from the UAE for not holding a valid visa, he decided Europe was his only hope. He paid $1200 for passage to Italy, and ended up in Malta when the boat ran out of fuel.

Solomon was detained on arrival in Malta and released after 8 months in consideration of his age. His application for asylum has been rejected and with no permission to work, he worries about his family trying to survive without his support.

"The last time I saw my family was in 1993. It’s been a long time. My children were very small, now they are grown."

Links 1

Malta

Links 2

detention

Links 3

return

Links 4

protection beyond Europe