I now feel happy and safe - asylum seeker

Asylum seekers living at hotel in Hereford have spoken of the welcome they have received in the city and their hopes for 2024.

People from Iran, Afghanistan and Sudan come together at the Friends Meeting House on Fridays to socialise and practise English, as well as getting advice from City Of Sanctuary volunteers.

Steven, from South Sudan, told BBC Hereford & Worcester he now felt happy and safe.

“I start my school and focus for a theme for my future and plan something good, not like before,” he said.

“Before I was [scared] and I don’t know what to do, but now I’m happy in Hereford.”

Maddy Salisbury, who volunteers with Herefordshire City of Sanctuary, said she hoped the asylum seekers could become UK citizens and enjoy happy lives here.

She said: “These are all people who’ve escaped really traumatic situations – war, famine, persecution.

“In the hotel they get a bed and they get meals, but they don’t have any other help, and we just felt we wanted to give them a welcome.”

The government said it had fulfilled its promise to eradicate the backlog of outstanding asylum claims by the end of 2023.

A large number of people have been stuck in the immigration system, waiting to hear if they will be granted refugee status.

The Home Office said it had reviewed a total of 112,000 applications but thousands are still awaiting a final decision.

Critics have accused ministers of massaging the statistics.

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