Action Matters

"In 2010 we want to experience freedom"

Hello and a very Happy New Year! It's fantastic to be able to start 2010 with story of real hope for a family who have been helped by Refugee Action, to settle in Bolton through an international resettlement programme.

“I was a bus driver and had a good life. Before the
war everything was good. After the war started I was targeted and my brother was killed and then my nephew was killed.”

By his own admission, Dhea-eldeen Ahmad Ali never wanted to leave Baghdad. But when his Palestinian roots made him and his family a target for the militias in a lawless Iraq following the allied invasion, it meant they had to flee for their lives.

Now they are able to look forward with hope for the first time in years after being given a new start in Bolton. They have been re-homed in the Deane area under the Gateway Protection Programme, a United Nations and Home Office scheme which Bolton Council subscribes to. The couple are being helped to rebuild their lives by Refugee Action's resettlement workers.

They have five children, Noor, aged 11, Om Elbanin, aged nine, Adbul-Rahman, aged four, Ali, aged three and Mohammed, aged one-and-a-half.

Mr Ali said: “I had never heard of Bolton, though I had heard of Manchester, Liverpool and London.  When we arrived we thought the town was beautiful, and the most important thing was that the people were so friendly.  We want to celebrate Christmas from now on. We are quite new to snow and it has surprised us.

“In 2010 we firstly want to experience freedom. I want to be maybe a bus or taxi driver and we are determined to learn English. The first thing I want to do is to make sure my children are OK. I want to say a big thank you to everyone.”

Archbishop of York stands up for asylum seekers at Christmas

It was wonderful to see that Archbishop of York, John Sentamu used his Christmas message in the Times to stand up for destitute asylum seekers, comparing the Chrismas story of Mary and Joseph to their modern day counterparts who are often left homeless and penniless. Read his full message, "No room at the inn? We can still be hospitable" on Times online.

Support Refugee Action this year

With your help, in 2010 we will continue to campaign for people who come to the UK seeking protection to be treated more fairly and humanely.  Please consider supporting asylum seekers who have to endure hunger and cold this winter.

Your donation of £10 will provide a rare hot meal to at least two people who have been coerced into destitution through no fault of their own.  Donate now to give someone a lifeline today.