News Archive 2008

Sometimes at airports one can feel a bit of an intruder on other people’s lives, as one catches glimpses of the welcomes and the farewells and the emotion that often accompanies these.

In July this year I found myself at Wellington airport awaiting the arrival of the refugee family of a young woman who has lived in Wellington for ten years. Ours was a happy and excited group waiting at the Arrival Lounge. Up until a few years ago, the older sister here did not know she had a brother and sister. It was quite a shock for her to find that they were in Sudan living in insecure, uncertain and ever-changing circumstances.

The process of reuniting refugee families in N.Z. is a lengthy one and it took several years for this family to be brought together. The mother died when the older sister was a young child and she was adopted out to another family. The siblings and father remained in Sudan. It is wonderful for the children to be here now and efforts are being made to bring their Dad to N.Z to be reunited with the family. At this point, he is waiting to be interviewed by United Nations staff, to start the process of getting a permit to enter N.Z.

The three siblings are understandably very anxious for the Dad to come so that together, they can settle and begin a new life. Just imagine the anxiety, frustration and stress, the emotions around this very slow process and what effect it has on each member of the family.

I was contacted by Refugee Services together with two other volunteers to help support and settle the two children and to give support especially to the older sister who has a very young baby of her own and was suddenly responsible for the care of two more children. The two children have settled very well. I was involved in taking them to Work and Income and Housing NZ and also enrolling and settling the children at St. Anne’s School.

It is wonderful for the three of them to be together but there is a great sadness and anxiety in their hearts as they await news of their Dad.

Sr Rachel Moreno