A Ghanaian refugee who almost died during a trek to cross the U.S - Canada edge into Manitoba on Christmas eventide volition lose all of his fingers, a toe as well as perhaps his arms.
"It's rattling bad news," Seidu Mohammed, 24, told CBC News inwards an interview at a Winnipeg infirmary where he is existence treated for severe frostbite.
"I don't know what to create correct now."
Mohammed said he fled Republic of Ghana for the U.S.A. inwards 2015 because he feared for his life due to his sexual orientation, merely when he arrived inwards San Diego, he was detained for a year.
He applied for asylum later on his visa ran out merely a gauge denied his request.
"I run for my life," Mohammed said.
He as well as some other Ghanaian man, who he met inwards Minneapolis, decided to flee to Canada. The ii of them took a omnibus to Grand Forks, N.D., as well as then flagged a cab as well as spent $400 for a ride to a topographic point close the U.S - Canada edge on Dec. 24.
"There is a large farm to a greater extent than or less the edge as well as nosotros passed through," said Mohammed. "It was rattling hard because when nosotros stepped inwards that farm, the snowfall was [at] our waists."
'If non for [a truck driver], nosotros would have got died inwards that snow,' Mohammed said.
For at to the lowest degree 7 hours, the ii trudged through snowy fields alongside the temperature hovering to a greater extent than or less the –18 °C mark, without the air current chill factored in.
They in conclusion came upon Highway 75, close the Emerson, Man., edge crossing.
The ii men tried for hours to flag downwardly trucks passing them yesteryear on the highway. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 truck driver in conclusion stopped as well as called 911 to larn medical assist for the men who were disoriented as well as cold. It is unclear how they managed to cross the edge without existence stopped.
They've both been inwards infirmary since the trucker got them help, recovering inwards a specialized lavatory ward of Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre.
"If non for him, nosotros would have got died inwards that snow," said Mohammed. "Nobody stopped till this Good Samaritan came along. God sent [this] man.… We were most to give up."
Mohammed said he is grateful to the trucker who stopped as well as called 911.
On Monday, Mohammed as well as his friend met the 'Good Samaritan' for the commencement fourth dimension since the morning time of Christmas eve.
"He was crying. We all started crying because he saved our lives," Mohammed said.
Law agency refugees must adventure lives: lawyer
Mohammed is ane of hundreds of refugees this yr that have got crossed the Canada - U.S. edge into Manitoba betwixt ports of entry.
According to the Canada Border Services Agency figures, there's been a five-fold increase inwards the release of refugee claimants crossing betwixt ports of entry inwards the yesteryear 3 years.
The Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement requires refugees to seek asylum inwards the commencement province they arrive, alongside a few exceptions.
Some advocates country the understanding is the argue refugees sometimes set their lives at adventure sneaking into countries similar Canada.
"If the Safe Third Country Agreement would endure scrapped, as well as then these people would non endure risking their lives through the prairie opened upwards field," said Bashir Khan, a Winnipeg immigration as well as refugee lawyer who has taken on the Ghanaian refugees' case.
They'd endure able to introduce themselves correct at the border," he said.
Journey 'worth it'
Mohammed has filed an application for refugee status. Refugee claims are typically heard yesteryear the Immigration as well as Refugee Board of Canada inside ii months.
He is hopeful he'll endure able to remain as well as operate inwards Canada as well as is grateful for all the assist he's received from diverse groups, including the local Ghanaian community.
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Seidu Mohammed volition have got all of his fingers amputated. |
"I desire to country give thank you lot you to all of you lot who demo caring."
Even though he was particularly saddened yesteryear intelligence from his doctors that he volition lose a toe since he's an avid soccer player, Mohammed said it's a cost he's willing to pay for liberty as well as a improve life.
"The journeying was worth it. I'm happy I'm here. To become back, I lose my life," he said. Sumber http://www.dnbstories.com/