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Family reunited at Christmas after two years

Tuesday December 23rd 2008

AN Ethiopian refugee who hasn't seen his wife and 11-year-old son for more than two years has been reunited with them in Tameside.

Gazahng Bekele Gonfa (34), a former politician, and his wife Alimaze (30) and son Robera, flew into each other's arms at Manchester Airport after their long and painful separation, and are looking forward to their first Christmas in Greater Manchester.

The three were separated in 2006 after Gazahng had to flee political persecution and took refuge in Kenya. He was brought to the UK in April this year under the Gateway Protection Programme, a joint UN and Home Office scheme which resettles some of the most vulnerable refugees in the world. They have had their cases assessed and have been granted leave to remain in the UK.

Gazahng, who is from the persecuted Oromo tribe, stood for government office in the May 2005 elections in Ethiopia and won a parliamentary seat. In January 2006 he was accused of inciting students to demonstrate and was threatened with arrest. He was detained twice and was tortured, suffering a dislocated arm because of his treatment. He was forced to go into hiding until he fled to Kenya where he lived in difficult conditions in Nairobi, in an area which was often attacked by Ethiopian agents. He could not tell his family where he was going as he had to flee immediately.

He said: "We lived in a very remote area. It was such a difficult life, and people had hands and arms missing from the torture they had suffered. I missed my family so much. When I knew I would be coming to England I was happy, it saved my life coming here."

Gazahng set about trying to trace his family and finally located them through contacts. He is being supported by a resettlement worker from Refugee Action, an independent charity that works with Gateway refugees in Greater Manchester during their first year in England.

Gazahng, who is currently learning English in college, said: "Until my wife and son landed at the airport I wasn't sure if I would see them again. We were so happy."

Alimaze, who was forced to leave her job and who had also feared for her safety in Ethiopia, said: "We all cried when we met at the airport. I am so happy to be back with my husband. My son and me are just trying to get used to England, but he likes football and he knows Manchester United and Liverpool."

Gazahng added: "We are looking forward to a safe and happy Christmas and will be going to church. People in Tameside have been very positive towards me, and very welcoming. I hope that in the future my country will be safe for me again and I can go back."

Rick Jones, manager of Refugee Action's Gateway Protection Programme in Tameside, said: "Gazahng and his family have suffered terrible persecution and the pain of a long separation. We are delighted that they are reunited and can rebuild their lives.

Refugee Action supports refugees under the Gateway Protection Programme by helping them to adapt to their new environment, access education, training and work and learn how to live independently again."

ENDS

For more information call Julia Ravenscroft, Press Officer at Refugee Action, on 0161 233 1956 or 07771 748 159.