Refugees from the Congo face a long, hard battle to successfully seek asylum


countries like the Congo, but aſter only five weeks of training they are given the power to decide whether someone is ly- ing and should be repatriated. In theory, all case-owners are provided with Home Office-produced country profiles, and have access to media coverage, the inter- net, and senior colleagues who specialise in particular countries. In the reasons given by the UKBA for


her refusal, Salome was told her knowl- edge of the DRC was “learnt for the pur- pose of claiming asylum as you have given dates and political events and yet could name no radio or newspapers from the country”. She was also told her story of what happened to her family was not ac- cepted, as the UKBA did not believe she would lose her family members so rapidly “within in a month of each other”. Equally her concerns of future violence against herself and her child were rejected, as was her appeal for compassion due to the fact she was HIV positive and receiving medical treatment [AVR] for her condi- tion in the UK. While the DRC is deemed safe for


Salome and her two-year-old daughter to return to, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises all British citizens against travelling to the DRC due to continued in- security and lawlessness. It also states that “acts of violence, including killing, rape” are carried out on the civilian population. Yet the Home Office has said Salome is in no severe risk of harm. “Someone at immigration is not doing


“I came here for a better life - but not in the way they are thinking - I did not come here for money and things. I am asking for help for me and my baby”


their homework or is completely divorced from reality if they think that this wom- an will return to a peaceful Congo and thrive,” says Ned Meerdink, an aid worker partly based in East Congo. Meerdink, who works in the DRC for humanitarian organisations SOS Femme en Dangers [SOS FED] and the Advocacy project, says that the realities of the Congo are far more dangerous and unstable than the in- ternational perception would portray. Ac- cording to Meerdink, the situation on the ground is perilous, fighting is still a daily occurrence and women in particular are in a very dangerous position. “A decade of war has really normalised some things like the rape epidemic in the Congo,” says Meerdink. Congo’s rape epidemic has gained in-


ternational attention, with Hillary Clinton denouncing this “weapon of war” and call- ing for its end. Te UN has released statis- tics which show that on average 36 women and girls are raped and sexually abused in


the Congo per day. Girls as young as three are reported to have needed medical treat- ment as a result of brutal sexual assaults. Women and their children are in an


extremely vulnerable position, adds Meer- dink. Besides rape, murder and abuse women are also likely to struggle under the demands of daily life. According to Meerdink, even collecting firewood has become a nightmare for women in Fizi, the area Salome claims to be from. Ac- cess to medical care is also difficult and at times impossible. Te humanitarian medical aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres [MSF] is providing care across the DRC, but still reports regular attacks


“Someone at immigration is not doing their homework or is completely divorced from reality if they think that this woman will return to a peaceful Congo and thrive”


on its staff and patients, that have even seen the evacuation of medical personnel. Te Home Office believes that while


AVR medication is available in the Congo, in reality access to it might be a little more difficult. SOS FED does a lot of work with women suffering with HIV and says ac- cess to medication is at times impossible. “I have had friends who could afford the ARV’s pass away because of lack of ac- cess.” Lack of medical facilities, doctors, transportation and dangerous, impassable roads could prevent someone getting ac- cess to these life-saving drugs. “I came here to save my life,” says


Salome. “I came here for a better life – but not in the way they are thinking – I did not come here for money and things. I am asking for help for me and my baby.” Whether or not Salome lied, the danger and instability of the Congo is unques- tionable. However, the British Govern- ment and UKBA, happily residing in a stable, peaceful and safe country, disa- gree. Ignorance and indifference could ultimately decide the fate of Salome and her daughter. And like the many other people seeking a safe haven from war, destruction and abuse, the odds are greatly stacked against them.


WINTER 2011 | NEW AFRICAN WOMAN | 35


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