I feel less human. I feel like, I don’t know how to express it, like I’m disappearing from the universe.

I told the Home Office that I am disabled, that I am blind. I even showed them my medical reports, but I don’t think it was ever taken into account.

I lived in hotel accommodation for over a year. First, they gave us a room on the top floor with no lift access. You had to use the stairs. But I can’t do this by myself unless I am assisted. It is too dangerous, in case I fall.

Often, if my daughter wasn’t around, I was confined to my room because I couldn’t leave by myself. I couldn’t even collect dinner. So I stayed by myself, hungry.

It all felt so difficult. I couldn’t read my letters from the Home Office by myself. I couldn’t access things that I needed to. The Home Office would say look online, go on the internet, but I can’t do this by myself. I can’t see.

I was told to search for a solicitor, but because of my sight I couldn’t. I went for my interview without any support from a solicitor. I was refused.

I was a politician back home. I was successful, I was confident. But now I am a different person. The mental stress is a lot. It impacts my mental health and holds me back. I don’t have the courage to speak to anyone or to go anywhere.

There are plenty of things I want to do, but because of my sight, I can’t express myself. No-one is there to help. It’s so painful.

I have finally moved into different accommodation. But I am still waiting for my asylum claim to be decided.

I wish the Home Office would take into account people’s disabilities. I should have been housed somewhere safe for me, I should have been treated like a human being, not as a problem. People with disabilities have rights too.

Since coming to Women for Refugee Women, my confidence has built a lot, I feel much stronger. I have started to use my voice again.

I hope I will receive my status soon, so I can be someone again.

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