Hanif has not seen his relatives for 8 years. This 22-year-old Afghan fled his country at the age of 14 after his father was assassinated by Taliban relatives. He arrived in Belgium a few months later after a long journey.
Today, Hanif is recognized for his work as a “sugar chef” in a restaurant in Durbuy. He has a network of friends and is well liked by his colleagues. His life is however far from being a long calm river. The young Afghan has been fighting for years to obtain papers. He can count on the support of his friend Amélie whom he considers his big sister. The young woman helps him with his administrative procedures.
“When Hanif arrived, he named a city that was not directly the right one. He misspoke. We misunderstood it. We took him for a liar. From there, it’s as if his file had been put in oblivion”, explains Amelie. Hanif would like to be regularized as soon as possible. He also has another wish: “I would like Fedasil to support me in my application for family reunification so that my mother and sister are safe here.”