Refugee Family, Relocated 60 Miles, Expresses Hope for a Permanent Home

A refugee whose family was instructed to vacate temporary lodging during sub-zero temperatures has stated that his children “have just one dream – to have a house like other kids in their school.” Moheand, his wife, and their three children were compelled to move 60 miles to Portrush after personnel at the hotel they were occupying, located on the outskirts of Belfast, requested their departure. They assert that this action followed a disagreement when a documentary filmmaker inquired with the hotel about filming inside with the family. The hotel directed BBC News NI to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), which indicated it was “examining the circumstances around this case.” “We have been asked to find alternative, temporary accommodation for this household, which we have done,” the NIHE further stated. The Executive also affirmed, “We will continue to work with them in the days ahead.” Nine-year-old Riyad translates for his family during their interactions with the NIHE. He expressed, “All I want is to get a house, that’s all, beside my school,” adding, “Then I’ll stop ringing the Housing [Executive] every time.” BBC News NI had previously reported on Moheand’s family when they were residing in Newry, 35 miles from the children’s school in Belfast. Subsequently, they were provided accommodation back in Belfast but have now been forced to relocate to Portrush, a place they had not encountered before Thursday. Moheand stated that he came from Africa with his family “seeking to be safe and to find a home but now I don’t feel safe and I’m homeless.” He questioned, “I want to know, this struggle, when is it going to end?” Moheand left Sudan because his life was under threat. He and his family lived in Northern Ireland for over five years while awaiting the processing of their asylum claim. Upon gaining refugee status, the responsibility for the family’s accommodation transferred to the Housing Executive. They were moved from Belfast to Belleek in County Fermanagh, then to Enniskillen, Newry, and back to Belfast, before being asked to leave and subsequently being housed in Portrush. In all these locations, they stayed in hotels. The children have remained enrolled at school in Belfast throughout this period, and the provisional nature of their accommodation means the family does not wish to re-enroll their children at schools in their various relocation sites. On Thursday morning, freelance filmmaker Gillian Callan requested permission to film at the hotel where Moheand and his family were staying, for a community documentary-making project. She states she was informed that filming was not permitted on the premises, a directive she claims she adhered to. However, three hours later, the family received a phone call instructing them that they had to move out. Ms Callan expressed concern that this incident was linked to her request to film. She remarked, “I felt sick, to be quite honest, when I realised that this was happening, and quite desperate for it to stop.” She further speculated, “If there’s another issue I’m unaware of it, which leads me to think that it’s because I asked to film.” She added, “The children are already telling me they could be late for school and they don’t want to be late for school, and it breaks my heart for them that they’ve ended up in this scenario.” Indicating the snow on the ground around her, she commented, “I think it’s scandalous on a day like today to ask the family to leave.” Moheand, who had no prior experience driving in snow, affirmed he would undertake the journey “because of my kids.” Riyad stated he was “just going to try and see if [Portrush] is good.” The advocacy group Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) indicated that this case highlights the precarious housing situation for many individuals residing in Northern Ireland. Twasul Mohammed, from PPR, mentioned that the organization works with numerous refugee families whose temporary accommodation is “frequently too small, in poor condition and ill-suited for long term living” as they await a permanent house.