The help must go on

The help must go on

Bernhard panzer it has been several days since a family of three was deported from chechnya: father, mother and 22-year-old son were sent back to kazakhstan. Uschi schmidt, a refugee counselor from herzogenaurach, is in contact with the family. "Our worst fears have come true", she states resignedly. And he is referring in particular to the young man who is on the wanted list.

She is worried about all three of them, especially her father hassan, who is severely diabetic and has hardly any medication left. But also for the sake of their son shamil, who is threatened with imprisonment or a labor camp there. He has already been deprived of all his money and valuables at the airports in moscow and almaty, as he stated in a voice message.

Money is urgently needed, so the aid group is collecting donations via donation boxes in herzogenaurach businesses and is also asking for specific transfers to the donation account. Only money can help the family, says schmidt. Because valuables were probably intercepted, they feared. It doesn’t even help to send batteries for hasan’s hearing aid. "They will be gone", says the woman from herzogenaurach. "This is a corrupt country. There, everyone makes money out of everything they can get."

Hassan was not able to take enough medication with him when he was deported. The medicine is running out now, but the couple has no money to buy new ones. And they have not found a doctor yet either. "In kazakhstan, you have to pay for every medical service", says schmidt. But the man needs the medication urgently "he has high sugar".

And then the 57-year-old from herzogenaurach becomes clear. There simply should not be deportation of sick people, especially if they are integrated and have or could have a job. Both are true of the couple. Luiza was well known and loved in herzogenaurach and helped many people, says schmidt.

And certainly no one should be deported to a country where they are threatened. She is referring to shamil, who did not perform military service and is therefore on the list of criminals. "They put him in prison or labor camps", she says. As soon as he signed on, he was arrested. The authorities had already told him this when he applied for marriage documents, schmidt reports. To get around this, he had to pay around 16000 euros.

The teacher from herzogenaurach does not understand the behavior of the authorities in bavaria. "In other federal states, there is no such thing as deporting someone who is threatened in their country of origin.", claims it.

With money one could at least help a little. "This is sent by western-union, you don’t have to be registered." She appeals to the donors to write names or a keyword to it, like for example kazakhstan. "There we do ourselves with the assignment more easily."

Shortly before the birth

This is also true for the cuban dayami, also here the helpers ask for donations (keyword cuba). The 34 year old was deported to her home country while very pregnant. Now, shortly before the birth, she is bedridden. She also had hardly any packing with her, all her baby things are stored with a friend in nurnberg.

"We want to make the transition easier for the people", says uschi schmidt. "Until they can stand on their own feet." Because the helpers are not of the opinion that their care should end with the deportation. They still want to struggle afterwards, until they know that the people are doing well.

Dreams are shattered

Whereas dayami was about to get married in germany and still hopes to come back to germany. But that will be difficult, because you need a lot of papers to get married.

And how is luiza? Your dreams have been shattered. She can’t understand why she wasn’t allowed to stay in germany. "Luiza first did some basic cleaning. Hygiene is very important to her", tells schmidt. And: "she thinks if she cleans up, she’ll get something right." With the current outlook "luiza probably cleans the whole day", states uschi schmidt sadly and resignedly.