Saafi* finally reunites with his family after more than a decade

Thursday, December 19 2024

Refugee Legal’s work continues to be shaped by global humanitarian crises that know no barriers – and which continue to tear families apart.

Please donate to our End of Year Appeal to power our work to help families reunite here.

Saafi*, a 47-year-old Afghan Shia Hazara man, contracted polio as a child, leaving him with a severe disability. He, his wife and their six children faced the constant risk of violence and brutality at the hands of the Taliban. They fled in fear to Pakistan.

Saafi arrived in Australia by boat in 2012, having been forced to also flee Pakistan and make the dangerous journey alone. He hoped to bring his family to be with him once he’d secured safety.

Within a year, Saafi was granted a permanent Protection visa. He immediately applied for family reunion under the Humanitarian program. But this was refused by the Department of Home Affairs due to policies effectively barring people who’d arrived by boat from reuniting with family.

In the decade that followed, the prolonged separation from his wife and children – stuck in danger in Pakistan – caused him deep anguish and daily distress. And a sense of hopelessness.

Saafi contacted Refugee Legal, desperate to find a way to bring his family here. In February 2023, in the wake of Government processing reforms, we assisted Saafi to sponsor his family for Partner visas.

This year, Saafi’s wife and six children were granted permanent Partner visas, and are overjoyed to finally be living together in safety in Australia.

Our profound thanks to the many of you who have already donated to our End of Year Appeal.

If you haven’t already, please consider giving to help people like Saafi.

With thanks and appreciation,

David Manne
Refugee Legal
CEO & Principal Solicitor

* Names and certain details have been changed to protect confidentiality.