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Refugees hoping for better life in Germany find themselves in limbo Refugees hoping for better life in Germany find themselves in limbo
(4 months later)
Germany takes in more refugees than any other rich country. But that does not mean it is easy for the hundreds of thousands of refugees stuck in limbo.Germany takes in more refugees than any other rich country. But that does not mean it is easy for the hundreds of thousands of refugees stuck in limbo.
One year and eight months since Chima Oxumbor arrived at Düsseldorf's police station to appeal for asylum, he has a €1-an-hour (85p-an-hour) job cleaning the toilets and floors at the camp where he shares a room with four or five other people. His life in Germany is not what he expected.One year and eight months since Chima Oxumbor arrived at Düsseldorf's police station to appeal for asylum, he has a €1-an-hour (85p-an-hour) job cleaning the toilets and floors at the camp where he shares a room with four or five other people. His life in Germany is not what he expected.
"We are not allowed to travel," said Oxumbor, 33, who is Nigerian. "We have to stay in the camp. Refugees are not living well.""We are not allowed to travel," said Oxumbor, 33, who is Nigerian. "We have to stay in the camp. Refugees are not living well."
After fleeing Nigeria where he says his father was killed and where a similar fate would await him, he travelled to Germany, registering at the police station where he was questioned for hours, had his photo taken, fingerprints recorded and was strip-searched.After fleeing Nigeria where he says his father was killed and where a similar fate would await him, he travelled to Germany, registering at the police station where he was questioned for hours, had his photo taken, fingerprints recorded and was strip-searched.
"They took a criminal photo and I was very afraid – there were many police in the room," he said. "They sent me to a camp in Dortmund and then to Karlsruhe. I didn't know what was happening.""They took a criminal photo and I was very afraid – there were many police in the room," he said. "They sent me to a camp in Dortmund and then to Karlsruhe. I didn't know what was happening."
Since then he has been moved from one camp to another without being given any indication about his future in Germany – a country he says he did not choose, but is relying on to give him a home. "I had always heard the name, and in Nigeria you think it is heaven, but since I came it has made me tired of Germany," he said. "I'm not allowed to work or go to school."Since then he has been moved from one camp to another without being given any indication about his future in Germany – a country he says he did not choose, but is relying on to give him a home. "I had always heard the name, and in Nigeria you think it is heaven, but since I came it has made me tired of Germany," he said. "I'm not allowed to work or go to school."
Oxumbor said there was a lot of violence at the camp near Stuttgart, people took their lives out of desperation and police often came to take photos without a reason.Oxumbor said there was a lot of violence at the camp near Stuttgart, people took their lives out of desperation and police often came to take photos without a reason.
"When people see the police, they are frightened," he said. "I'm not happy with the situation. I'm not allowed to go for a walk or to integrate with the people. I am someone who has stayed in Germany for over a year and I can't speak good German.""When people see the police, they are frightened," he said. "I'm not happy with the situation. I'm not allowed to go for a walk or to integrate with the people. I am someone who has stayed in Germany for over a year and I can't speak good German."
But he said he had no choice but to wait to find out if he would be granted asylum.But he said he had no choice but to wait to find out if he would be granted asylum.
"I'm still on the run," he said. "I think if they don't give me asylum, I will have to fight. If we [refugees] are here, we are running from a problem in Africa and we think we can now start a better life, but that [hasn't happened] and people are frustrated.""I'm still on the run," he said. "I think if they don't give me asylum, I will have to fight. If we [refugees] are here, we are running from a problem in Africa and we think we can now start a better life, but that [hasn't happened] and people are frustrated."
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