Ros Wynne-Jones pens the Real Britain column weekly in the Daily Mirror, advocating against government austerity measures and championing the cause of everyday individuals.
Abdul Musa Adam, my childhood friend, embarked on a fateful journey to Britain from war-ravaged Darfur at the tender age of seven. His departure was not a choice; his village fell victim to Janjaweed militias, claiming the lives of his parents and nearly all residents. Alongside his younger brother Yusuf, Abdul was among the mere four survivors, guided through treacherous terrain by two other adults over six grueling days, marking the commencement of countless refugee odysseys.
Abdul’s narrative epitomizes the plight of millions of refugees worldwide, uprooted by conflict and adversity. Despite his deep affection for his homeland and family, the ongoing turmoil forced him to seek safety elsewhere, leading him through Chad’s perils, Libya’s civil unrest, and eventually to the UK at the age of 13, hidden beneath a smuggler’s vehicle. Nigel Farage’s proposed policies, advocating mass deportations, would have subjected Abdul to Reform UK’s stringent measures, disregarding his traumatic past and uncertain future.
The harrowing experiences Abdul endured, including the loss of his family, torture in migrant detention, and precarious living conditions, have left indelible scars on his psyche. Despite his compassionate nature and resilience, he has been rattled by the rising hostility towards individuals like him, grappling with deteriorating mental health in the face of public animosity.
Farage’s rhetoric on deportations and the surge of far-right demonstrations only exacerbate the challenges faced by refugees like Abdul and Karim, a young Afghan who navigated perilous waters to reach the UK, only to encounter hostility from protesters. Amid escalating political discourse on immigration, it is imperative for compassionate voices to counteract the rising tide of intolerance and advocate for the protection and support of vulnerable populations seeking refuge in our midst.
