Stories from our experience in supporting abandoned migrants and asylum seekers in the last 30 yrs. We cannot mention names because it is a breach of Immigration law to publish a person’s name. These stories will give you an idea of their desperate struggles for survival.
C from India – an asylum seeker who was bashed over the head in Albert Park when sleeping rough because he had no money for the back-packers lodge. He was hospitalised for several weeks recovering from his injuries.
D from Sri-Lanka – he gassed himself in his car after sleeping rough on the side of the street – he appealed his case several times but failed each one because of discrepancies in his story
P from India – After his first appeal was declined he was not issued a work visa anymore and had to live rough and do illegal work to survive.
E from Africa – After he was declined he had to move out of the refugee hostel and a friend gave him a place to stay and he tries of find volunteer work when he can? Life is not easy.
X from West Asia – he had many appeals and all were unsuccessful so he resorted to sharing a room with others and many sad things happened along the way. He was eventually deported
B from Central Asia – she had many appeals and after many years her case was successful.
M from Iran was declined and friends supported him with free accommodation until he returned to Iran and faced lots of life threatening difficulties.
B from Arabia was refused an asylum case in NZ and went to the USA for safety but faced many problems in his first year there. In his home nation, he was nearly beheaded. He was tortured by his family and totally renounced and rejected.
A from Arabia was kidnapped out of Auckland given 1,000 lashes on his return home
M from Persia was deported after several years of unsuccessful appeals and on his arrival he was tortured for three months and then charged with apostasy and placed in prison for 3.5 years and released with a broken leg and arm as punishment for not returning to his original religion.
S from Iran was kept in Auckland prison for 10 months before his case was finally successful.
A is currently in Auckland prison and threatened with deportation.
D just received his appeal decision. He was accepted as a refugee in NZ. He is elated after three appeals and a six-year wait.
A is threatened with deportation and has appealed the decision. He is in limbo and can’t get a job because he has no certainty about his future. His lawyer is representing him but he needs plenty of support from the community.
These stories are the reason we need a Safe Haven House in Mangere to provide support.
