limbo immigrants
More than 3,400 war-ravaged Iraqis whose claims for asylum in Britain have been rejected are now in a limbo situation on section 4 support, and Aisha's family is among them, all of whom are suffering from disabling post-traumatic stress."I don't understand why our asylum claim failed," cries Aisha. "Our country is finished, most of our relatives have been killed, all that we worked hard to achieve is no more and we came to Britain because it is where we expected to be treated well."
"Yes, we have been treated well -- we have accommodation and food vouchers and some people have been kind to us – but we are in limbo because as failed asylum seekers we cannot stay here yet have no home to go back to."
"We have very little money left and when that goes we will not be able to go anywhere, even catch a bus to go shopping," sighs Aisha. "It is humiliating for us to become beggars. All we want is a chance to start a new life is this country. Is that too much to ask after this country was instrumental in destroying my country?"
"My husband has skills and would like to get a good job and be able to support his family -- as he once did in Iraq," says Aisha, "but he is not allowed to work. What sort of torture is this?"
"Why are we being victimized when so many Eastern Europeans are allowed into this country to work and get rich?"
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