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A family from Syria, who escaped from Isis and were approved for resettlement in the UK, is facing challenges in caring for their epileptic son as they endure a lengthy wait for relocation.
The family has been waiting for almost four years to be brought to the UK. They are now facing financial difficulties in purchasing medication for their seven-year-old child, who has been unable to receive adequate medical treatment in Iraq.
In December 2019, the UK government approved the family’s request for assistance and finalized their approval in February 2020 through the UK Resettlement Scheme. This program aims to relocate at-risk refugees who have been recommended by the UN.
However, they are currently awaiting transportation to the UK.
Yawar, a 40-year-old father, spoke with The Independent about the challenges he and his family face in Erbil, Iraq. He shared that his son’s epilepsy requires special medication which is difficult to obtain, but he will do whatever it takes to help his child.
“The medication is not effectively managing his epileptic episodes and for the past two days, neither he nor we have been able to sleep. During our last visit to the doctor, he raised my son’s dosage to the maximum amount and stated that if this does not improve his condition, there are no other options available. Unfortunately, his epilepsy is still uncontrolled.”
According to the family’s lawyers, the oldest son has difficulty interacting with peers and has hydrocephalus, a condition that slows down brain development by causing fluid buildup. The youngest son, age four, also struggles with developmental challenges and experiences social isolation.
Yawar and his relatives are not receiving the necessary medical assistance in Iraq.
In 2014, Yawar and his wife left Syria due to an attack by Isis on their hometown of Kobani in the northern part of the country. This event caused a large number of refugees, approximately 400,000, to seek shelter in Turkey. Yawar’s two sons were born in Iraq, where the couple had fled to.
In 2020, the UKRS (UK’s Resettlement Scheme) was established with the goal of relocating approximately 5,000 vulnerable refugees to the UK in its first year. These refugees are from countries like Syria and Sudan.
The Home Office has abandoned the goal and stated that the figures will be continuously monitored. Only 2,407 individuals have been relocated since 2020 and numerous are required to endure lengthy wait times before being transferred.
The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported that the UK has not given a quota for the UKRS since 2020. The agency has been instructed to limit any new referrals and only consider a few per year in highly exceptional circumstances.
The International Organisation for Migration conducted an evaluation of the family’s requirements and informed the UK government that they would require a residence with no stairs and wheelchair accessibility. However, the Home Office informed the family that they were unable to provide suitable housing for them to reside in the UK.
In June 2021, the NHS in England reviewed the family’s situation and informed the government that the oldest son would require treatment at a regional center for pediatric neurosciences and surgery.
The lawyers representing the family have informed the Home Office that the hospitals in Iraq operated by the government are severely lacking and the only viable option for proper medical care is at private hospitals, which our client does not have the means to pay for. They also mentioned that even the private hospitals in Iraq are unable to provide treatment for hydrocephalus.
Due to the deteriorating security conditions in the Middle East, Iran launched missiles into Erbil, Iraq this week, close to where Yawar and his family reside. Upon hearing the missile strikes, Yawar and his family hurriedly left their home and took to the streets. Yawar stated, “It was extremely frightening for children to endure this level of fear in the middle of the night.”
He and his family have finally been able to go back to their home. He mentioned that although he works at a market during the day, he still has a hard time affording his son’s medication and has accumulated debt in order to pay for their expenses.
Unfortunately, his spouse, who is 33 years old, is also facing challenges with her mental well-being as she is solely responsible for caring for their two sons. He expressed, “When I initially learned that my request was approved, I was ecstatic because all I wanted was for my children to have a brighter future. However, as the process gets dragged out, I am becoming increasingly frustrated. My main goal is for my children to receive the necessary care, attend school, and have a typical childhood like any other child.”
He stated that both of his children are unable to attend school and that his family is ostracized by others when they bring their disabled son out of the house. He expressed that going out in public often results in people giving them strange looks, which makes them feel terrible. The way people judge their children’s behavior due to their disabilities shows a lack of acceptance for those with disabilities.
In October 2022, the Home Office informed the family’s attorneys that they were cognizant of the pressing nature of the case and would continue to make efforts to find suitable housing for the family.
According to a Conservative Member of Parliament, Suella Braverman, there is a limited availability of secure and lawful paths for migrants.
A recent study conducted by the organization Refugee Council revealed that the United Kingdom has seen a decrease in the number of refugees being resettled, reaching its lowest point in ten years. In the period between October 2022 and September 2023, only 766 refugees were able to be resettled.
According to Jon Featonby, the main policy analyst at the charitable organization, this particular family’s situation highlights the pressing need for better resettlement practices. Resettlement is currently one of the few “safe routes” for refugees to enter the UK, but it is currently at its lowest point in over ten years.
According to him, the Refugee Council has been urging the government to increase safe pathways for refugees to enter the UK. However, there has been a lack of significant effort to provide assistance.
According to Mr Featonby, the government needs to prioritize reducing risky Channel crossings by offering a safe route to reach our shores.
Fionnuala Gregan, a lawyer at Duncan Lewis, who has been assisting the family’s legal proceedings, expressed their deep concern for the well-being of a family of four. This includes two children with disabilities such as delayed development, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy.
We are worried that the family is facing a prolonged wait to be resettled in the UK, which has led to limited food, increasing debt, and inadequate healthcare for their children’s disabilities.
“While the family is waiting to be relocated to the United Kingdom, they are seeing a worsening security situation in Iraq. This includes drone strikes on a nearby US military base and recent Iranian missile attacks on residential areas in Erbil, Iraq. If the delays persist, the family is afraid of being stuck in a more dangerous situation in Iraq.”
A representative from the Home Office stated that the United Kingdom has a long-standing tradition of offering refuge to individuals in genuine need through our secure and lawful methods. Over the past five years, we have welcomed nearly 500,000 individuals, including those from Hong Kong, Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, as well as relatives of refugees.
“We are dedicated to locating suitable housing to facilitate continued resettlement. However, in certain situations where specific housing is necessary, the rate at which individuals can be resettled in the UK may be affected.”
Source: independent.co.uk
