A ceremony is organized this Friday at the town hall of Lille, to officially hand over their title of refugee to the Sudanese of the Aquarius, this humanitarian boat, which had a lot of trouble finding a port to dock…
Whereas just a few weeks ago these Soudanias were on the Aquarius (a humanitarian ship loaded with migrants around which the European countries tore themselves apart in June), and did not know where they would go, today these 42 Sudanese aged 18 to 32, rub shoulders with the golds of the Republic. They have just obtained their refugee status very officially, during a ceremony organized with the city of Lille, the Nord prefecture, OFPRA (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) and OFII (Office French for immigration and integration).
“France has decided to grant you refugee status (…) Today, for you, is the end of a very long, extremely difficult and painful journey and, we all hope, the beginning of ‘a better life in which we will accompany you’Lille Mayor Martine Aubry told the 42 migrants during a ceremony at the town hall.
During this, the refugees were given the decision of the Ofpra (French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) recognizing them refugee status, which will allow them to obtain a residence card for 10 years.
“Che reason for the shortened time is that we went ahead of the request, in Spain, to hear the asylum seekers who told us of the reasons for which they had left their country, which made it possible to pre – instruct their cases”explained Anatole Puiseux, Deputy Secretary General of Ofpra.
“We know what you have been through (…) You are at home here, you are from Lille, and we are extremely happy to have you with us”continued Ms. Aubry in a speech widely applauded by the refugees.
Aged 18 to 32, the latter are currently housed in a municipal residence, a former accommodation establishment for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) with the support of the association La Backup, mandated by the State.
“I’m really very happy, it’s a very special day for me. I thank everyone. Coming to France was my dream for several reasons, for education, the development of the country, technology…”testified Baher, 25, who was studying biology in Sudan.
“The France which welcomes you will seem strange to you, (face) to those who welcome you with open arms, there are also those who welcome you with closed arms, but France is like this, love it (…) and this love, France will know it for you
render”, told them the prefect of the region, Michel Lalande.
A total of 78 refugees from the Aquarius have been welcomed to France, among the 630 migrants aboard this Doctors Without Borders and SOS Méditerranée ship. In mid-June, faced with the refusal of Italy and Malta to welcome him, he finally landed in Valencia (Spain).
