Mytilene | Story no3Walking together

I am 32 years old, a Kurd living in Iraq, in Kirkuk. When I came to Europe first time about three years ago, I left my wife and my kids behind because I was scared for them passing through the sea. When I entered Europe I searched for friends and asked them where can I stay, where is better. I had a nephew in Denmark, but he told me it was very difficult there. I asked other friends and acquaintances but realised that things were quite hard everywhere. Then, friends that lived in Finland told me that for the people that come from Kirkuk Finland is the best place because the authorities know what happens in Kirkuk and are helping people, they give them asylum status very fast. So I reached Finland and stayed there for two years and three months. I returned to Kirkuk, to bring my family over, my wife, my children and my mother. Now, the second time I entered Europe through Greece, so I wait to see whether my asylum claim will be assessed by Greek or Finish authorities. If Greece gives me asylum I will stay here because I like it more here and because in Finland it is very cold.

Moria is a difficult place and I don’t like it. People fight there very much and I had problems there that troubled me a lot. After the pogrom that happened in Moria against the Kurds we found protection in PIKPA. We stayed there for three weeks but they couldn’t keep us any longer. So, the authorities started sending some of us in Kara-Tepe but most of us were sent in Moria. People that returned to Moria faced various safety and security issues so many decided to leave on their own and find a difference place to sleep. In Kara-Tepe only families reside so things are peaceful and quiet. Every day I go to One Happy Family and help the people there voluntarily, I like it very much there; I cut the hair of people that come, both men and women. I also go to other places and give haircuts when my friends ask me to. I like this work and usually I stay there until late evening. Then I go to my room in Kara-Tepe. I am in the UNHR programme of “cash card”. The difficulty is that where we stay is very cold. We have electricity but we don’t have any heating bodies so it is imperative that we use many blankets. In the room we used to be 13 people but now most departed to Athens so I am left in the room with some Arabs. We have a very good relationship, and no problems with each other. At this moment I wait from the authorities to decide which state will handle my asylum process. My future is very uncertain. I have trouble sleeping and if I don’t use pills I might stay many days without sleep. While I was in Moria, I was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder due to the conditions in the camp, and the doctor in the camp advised to be removed from there.