Asylum seeker coordinator calls on Goverment to provide more resources
Saj Hussain (centre) and members of the Ballaghaderreen community who were awarded with the 'Community of the Year' in April, 2018 at the People of the Tear Awards
A Ballaghaderreen member of the welcoming committee for asylum seekers has called on the Government to provide more facilities for rural Ireland and stressed people fleeing war should be welcomed.
Saj Hussain, who moved to Ireland in 2002 from Pakistan and has been a highly active member of the Ballaghaderreen community for 20 years and chairman of the Tidy Towns Committee.
The father of five is the coordinator of the welcoming committee at the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centre (EROC) and he has helped hundreds of Syrian refugees to settle into life in the border town.
Saj said the Government has not communicated effectively but he questions where humanity is gone when child asylum seekers are impacted by scuffles between Gardaí and protestors like the one in Roscrea.
"I know the Government is not handling things properly," he said. "There should be open information and when there is a vacuum there and no proper information there is problems."
The Independent candidate for the Roscommon local elections said asylum seekers should be welcomed in Mayo, where more than 6,000 are currently being accommodated, county Roscommon and across the west.
Elected members of Mayo County Council unanimously passed a motion on Monday calling on local authority staff to immediately cease co-operation with the Department of Integration in relation to housing refugees and asylum seekers.
"The focus should not be on the refugees, and they should be welcomed with open arms after fleeing trouble and trauma, it's as simple as that," Saj added.
*The full story can be read in next week's Western People
