Ahmed Shamseldin is Sudanese, he arrived at the Dijon reception center just a year ago. Before confinement, he was awaiting the response to his refugee claim overnight. Today, there are even more questions. “If it is rejected, what will happen in the future for me and my children? And if it is accepted, what new challenges will happen”, he wonders.
Obviously, Maxime Saunié, the social worker who accompanies him, does not have the answer. He also did not have it for Yasir, who obtained his refugee status. He finally had to move into an apartment and start training. Projects that are currently stopped. “We must keep the barrier gestures. But we must still be there for people and be able to respond to their concerns. Basically, they are already important in support but today they are increasing with the current health crisis “, he confides.
Today, the center of Dijon welcomes 98 people of more than a dozen nationalities. So many different cultures and reactions to the pandemic that had to be managed. The team had to do a lot of prevention. Her daily life, too, has changed since mid-March.
Coronavirus Covid-19: a long wait for asylum seekers in Dijon –
Processing dormant requests
“The asylum request no longer becomes the priority of priorities during this period. Since OFPRA [Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides] and the CNDA [Cour nationale du droit d’asile] which are the two instances are dormant. So that doesn’t mean that nothing is happening, but it’s not as important as it used to be, specifies Rachel Ferriot, head of the territorial asylum center. However, social support, accommodation management and collective life in the establishment is more than ever at the forefront. “
The main concern of the supervisors during this difficult period is that the people accommodated lack nothing essential. They can count on the help of associations such as Restos du Coeur, which deliver food parcels to all residents every week.
Throughout the territory, the validity of residence documents for foreigners in a regular situation, such as asylum seekers or holders of a residence permit, has been extended by six months due to complications from the coronavirus.
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