Refugees left too worried about family

REFUGEES forced to leave family members behind experience depression and anxiety, often not knowing if their loved ones are safe, a report revealed yesterday.

A Family Belongs Together by the Irish Refugee Council, Nasc and Oxfam Ireland highlighted how being separated from relatives impedes integration into Irish society.

It said refugees are unable to concentrate on improving language skills, education or employment while worrying about the safety and whereabouts of family members.

One woman forced to flee said: “I didn’t know where my children were, I thought I was going to die.”