Families granted asylum after ‘terrifying journey’
TWO families who fled from Iraq and had a terrifying journey to Wales have been granted a two-and-a-half-year stay.
The Rebwah and Sedeeq families attended a court in Newport to find out whether or not they would be allowed to stay in the city they now call home, Swansea.
The two families fled Iraq in 2015 and managed to make it all the way to Bulgaria.
Mr and Mrs Rebwah had four young children and the Sedeeqs had three. All seven children are cousins.
While staying in a refugee camp both fathers left to go and find food for their families. They never returned.
The men both froze to death, leaving the mothers behind to look after seven children.
An uncle of both families, Aram Faraj, lives in Swansea, where he has permanent UK residence. Mr Faraj waited nine months for permission to bring the families back to the UK. During that timeframe Mrs Rebwah died, leaving four children orphans.
Both families made it to Swansea, where they have been helped by Swansea Bloom, an arm of the Linden Church, which helps asylum-seekers and refugees to integrate through visits, friendship and creating opportunities.
In April the four Rebwah orphans, Alwand five, Rozhan, eight, Omar, 11, and Rekan, 13, were granted a stay in the UK for the next two and a half years living with their uncle.
However, Mrs Sedeeq and her children were not so fortunate. But now Trifa Sedeeq and her three children, Mohammed, 12, Dani, 11, Marwar, five, have been granted asylum in the UK. Prior to Monday’s hearing they had been facing deportation.
The children have spent the last few months enjoying school, but at the same time worrying about the outcome from the Home Office. Some of the children and the mother have been suffering with trauma-induced seizures because of what they saw and experienced on their journey to Wales.
Rachel Matthews works for Swansea Bloom, and has been helping the family since they arrived in the UK.
She said: “The journey to court was really silent. They were thinking they might have to leave the place they call home. This is now a massive weight off their shoulders, they can get on with their life for a bit.”
Both families will hear in two weeks’ time whether they can all stay for five years instead.
Ms Matthews said: “The children are doing really well in school. They love it, although they could benefit from trauma counselling as their journey here is still affecting them, but we can’t find anywhere in Swansea who can help.”