We dedicate this article to Mr. F, a man with an impressive career, intelligent and with a mischievous look in his eyes. We want to highlight his story but also how it could have ended if he had been granted asylum.
Anyway, he said he didn't need help
The Street Nurses team met Mr. F in a Brussels station. He was fully aware of his dire situation. But he was also sure that he could cope by himself.
In fact, he fooled us a bit. He was secretive, if only about his real name, which changed at each meeting.
Sometimes, he totally neglected himself. Come rain, storm, or snow, he didn’t budge for days. The Street Nurses team regularly received calls from citizens who worried about him.
That landed him as an emergency in a psychiatric clinic. There he only enjoyed creative activities. Mandala’s, mosaic…those made him feel better. But as soon as he was back on the street, his situation deteriorated. Again, and again.
A researcher in biology… homeless and undocumented
One day, Mr. F asked if he could use one of our smart phones to check his Facebook page. That’s how we discovered his true identity!
Before the war started in his country, he was a renowned researcher in biology. He had even published a book!
We don’t know the reason for his exile, but we do know that he went to Germany and was refused asylum. In Belgium, the European system didn’t allow him to obtain international protection. That’s how he became a homeless person without papers.
Rest in peace, Mr. F
At Street Nurses, we’re convinced that extreme situation in which our patients find themselves, can be avoided. Recently, Mr. F died in hospital.
Suppose he had been granted asylum in Germany. Could he have worked there and enriched society with his input? Could he have obtained recognition of his skills and diplomas in Europe? Could he have found friends, start a family, build a new life?
Appalling injustice – which saddens us deeply.
In memory of Mr. F and in support of other migrants among our patients, we insist that in some cases regularization of a residence permit can be lifesaving and should be considered as such.
Based on the testimony of Sarah, Street Nurse.
(*) We do our utmost to respect the privacy of our patients and our professional secrecy. However, we want to testify to how they must survive and how we are working together to reintegrate them. As a result, the names of places and people are deliberately omitted or changed and real-life situations are placed in a different context. There is no direct link between the photos and the stories above.