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Traumatised survivor of genocide needs money for health care and
to save her from homelessness in Rwanda Ms Mary Wendo is 60 years old, the oldest member of the All African Women’s Group (AAWG) based at the Crossroads Women’s Centre. |
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Mary witnessed her husband and only son being killed during the Rwandan genocide. She survived by lying among dead bodies for many days, pretending to be dead. She was badly injured and severely traumatised by this horrific experience. In 2002, Mary was detained, raped and subjected to other torture at the local police station. She fled to the UK a few months later. Mary joined our group in 2005 and is one of the most traumatised women we know. We are very worried about her. |
Mary’s asylum claim was turned down because she never received notice of
the Home Office appointment. An Immigration Judge then dismissed her
appeal. Women Against Rape found a lawyer from a good firm to make a
fresh claim on Mary’s behalf.
During this time, Mary suffered from very poor mental health. She tried to kill herself by drinking bleach and heard voices. She was admitted to hospital for some time. On release, Mary could not live alone so she went to live with relatives outside London.
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We lost touch with Mary, despite numerous attempts to find her. Later, we heard that she had been abused and beaten and put on a plane back to Rwanda by the people she was staying with. She has no family there, and has been living on the charity of strangers and the limited help and support friends from AAWG have provided. |
Mary’s mental health has continued to deteriorate. We recently got news
that she had fallen and the metal pin in her leg (from an operation in
the UK to repair an injury sustained in the genocide), moved and is
causing severe pain. She has been in hospital for over a month but
cannot afford the money for another operation.
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The woman who Mary has been staying with cannot afford to keep her anymore. Mary found a mud house which she could move into once her leg is better, but the roof has collapsed. She needs £400 to pay for a roof and put in a door and windows. |
Any donations to help Mary to have the operation she needs, put a
roof over her head and towards food and survival expenses would be very
welcome. Please make cheques payable to Legal Action for Women (who
run an Emergency Fund for the All African Women’s Group) and mark the
cheque “Mary appeal”. Please send to “Mary Appeal”, Crossroads Women’s
Centre 230a Kentish Town Rd, London, NW5 2AB.
All African Women's Group
020 7482 2496,
aawg02@googlemail.com
Crossroads Women’s Centre 230a Kentish Town Rd, London, NW5 2AB.