Alexandra Wood
REFUGEE families from what has been dubbed "Africa's world war" will be arriving in a safe haven in Yorkshire today.
Six families of Congolese refugees, including a baby just a few months old, are coming to Hull to start a new life a
s part of an international resettlement programme.
They include teachers and nurses, and will be expected to look for jobs as they get settled in. Some local schools have already offered the children places and a local Congolese association is preparing to welcome them.
So far all they have seen of Hull is pictures of cream telephone boxes, and streets with post offices and banks.
Richard Byrne, from the Refugee Council, said: "They could have gone to the USA, Canada, Australia, Sweden.
"They came here – they didn't have a particular choice of where to go. It is a mad human lottery."
The 62 refugees come from a vast country with immense economic resources which has been at the centre of a horrifying five-year conflict.
It has claimed three million lives, mostly through starvation and disease, the greatest number to die in a conflict after the Second World War.
Forced to leave their homes the refugees have been living in three camps in Zambia – including Kala camp just within the Zambian border.
But life there hasn't been easy, with food rations being cut, forcing people to seek work outside the camp, and running the risk of detention by the authorities.
The refugees, who include one family with nine members, were selected by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) as being especially at risk from torture, rape and even death.
They are now coming to the UK as part of the Gateway Protection Programme, a partnership between the Government and UNHCR.
Council leader Ken Branson said: "The city has a proud history of helping small numbers of refugees, from countries such as Iraq and Zimbabwe find a safe haven and we are pleased to offer the hand of help again.
"These people have been through terrible life experiences that many of us would feel unimaginable and would agree that no one should have to endure. I am sure the people of Hull will offer a warm welcome."
Many of the refugees speak Swahili and French, with others speaking basic English. In Hull they will have English lessons.
Asylum has already been granted, allowing them to work, although they will get benefits in the meantime.
Housing is being provided via private landlords and local housing associations. Workers from the Refugee Council will help them settle in.
They have all had health checks and were screened for contagious diseases.
Mr Byrne said: "It's not a notion of hopefully they will get work and never will. They have been stuck in a dead end and they are itching to get on and start making a life for themselves.
"Some have been employed in the camps as nurses and teachers and will be coming clutching their references."
The families who arrived today are coming in the second of three batches.
Acting head of equalities Alan McKenzie said: "Their arrival has been phased in over nine weeks. No one even noticed the first group who arrived – the next group will be more visible because there are more children."
The Government signed up to the resettlement programme in 2003, but in two years is still short of the annual target figure of 500. The United States takes over 50,000 refugees a year.
alex.wood@ypn.co.uk
