Beirut – May 27, 2013 – A UNHCR-recognized
African refugee couple today began an open-ended hunger strike to demand their
resettlement in a third country where their daughter will finally be granted a
future.
Lamis, 4 years old, was born to a Sudanese
father and a Somali mother. She does not have any nationality or legal status
in Lebanon. Her father, Muhamad, 41 years old, arrived to Lebanon in the 90’s,
fleeing persecution in Sudan. He was arrested several times for illegal entry
and is still traumatized. Her mother Gigi, 30 years old, orphan, fled Somalia
when she was a child. She has been a victim of slavery in Lebanon and has never
known anything else except suffering and misery.
Lamis is neither Somali nor Sudanese, she is simply
stateless. She will never have legal status in Lebanon. The Lebanese Law does
not provide for this. She has no opportunity of studying, since she faces the
risk of being arrested because she does not have papers. Discrimination,
exploitation and poverty - it is the future of Lamis if no solution is found
for this family.
« I am afraid she will suffer like me »,
sobs Gigi, recalling bitterly the years she spent working without ever enjoying
her childhood.
« After all these years of suffering, our happiness
is gone; our sole purpose now is to give our daughter a future », adds
Muhamad.
The only solution for Lamis is a resettlement
in another country, organized by the UNHCR. For the moment, no country has
accepted them yet. The parents of Lamis cannot take it anymore; they don’t see
any other solution than to begin an open-ended hunger strike until a solution
is found «at least for Lamis» they beg. « We would even accept that she is
sent without us in a country that would protect her rights ».
Despite the fatigue and years of their lives
ruined by suffering, they cling to the hope that a country will open its doors
to them.
CLDH (Lebanese Center for Human Rights) that is
following the case of this family - hosts them in its premises for their hunger
strike, not only to show the support of the organization to their protest, but
also to prevent further violation of their rights. « Refugees who protest
in front of UNHCR are regularly arrested. We prefer that their protest takes place
in the safety of our office», explains Wadih Al-Asmar, Secretary General of
CLDH.
For more information :
Wadih Al-Asmar, 70 950 780.
