Family's fears of return to Africa

Nov 6 2005 By Eleanor Gregson, The Sunday Sun

A family of refugees who fled to the region from Angola have spoken of their fear of being sent back to the war-torn African country.

Wilma Da Graca, 19, had been living with her mother, Isabel,  and sister, Jessica, in Byker, Newcastle, for nearly five years.

Isabel has spent much of her time visiting schools to raise awareness of the plight of refugees.

But a week ago, on Jessica's 16th birthday, immigration officers arrived at 6am without any warning to collect them for deportation.

They were taken to Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, in Bedfordshire, where they are still being held.

Wilma said: "We are all very scared. We don't know what is going to happen to us and every day we wonder whether we will be sent back to Angola.

"We have no life there and when they drop us at the airport, we will have nowhere to go.

"We will just be adding to the millions of people living on the streets."

Despite desperate pleas to the Home Office the family, now classified as failed asylum seekers, have nearly been deported three times in the past week, but their flights were cancelled.

The thought of losing the new life they have made for themselves is devastating, says Wilma, whose family come from the Angolan capital Luanda.

Wilma, who was studying for a first diploma in business at Newcastle College, says her mother and sister, who is ill, have been crying constantly.

She said: "The day they came to get us was a terrible day. It's as though we are criminals or something.

"My sister has an operation at hospital in Newcastle on Tuesday for her kidneys and if we go back to Angola, then she won't get the operation."

Moises Raimundo, a friend of the family and a volunteer for the North East Refugee Service, has been involved in the family's appeal to stay in the country and is concerned for their welfare.

They see the North as their home and were actively involved in the community . . . even featuring on a poster promoting an event to improve community cohesion.

He said: "This is a terrible thing for the family. They are well-liked in their community and have been involved in activities in raising awareness for the plight of refugees in schools.

"The sisters have taken part in many events and festivals with the Angolan Community Association and now see this as their home."

He added: "We have sent a letter to the Home Office appealing for the family to stay in the country, as it is not safe for them to go back."

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "We don't discuss individual cases on the operational specifics of removal flights.

"The removal of those who have no legal right to be in the UK is an essential part of having an effective and credible immig- ration system in which the public can have confidence. The UK government will grant asylum to those with a well-founded fear of persecution under the terms of the 1951 Geneva Convention."