Habane's story: reuniting families separated by war 

Habane was captured and separated from his wife and child during the civil war in Somalia and believed they had both died. Lucky enough to escape, he fled the country and was granted refugee status in the UK. 

Habane settled in Bristol, worked for a local business and passed the tests to become a British Citizen. Three years ago he found out that his wife and child were still alive. He also heard that his wife had been pregnant when they had been forced apart, but when he applied to the Home Office for permission for his family to join him, the Home Office refused. 

The Law Centre helped Habane to prepare an appeal against the Home Office decision and instructed a barrister to represent him at the Tribunal. 

The appeal was successful and Habane’s wife and children are now allowed to join him in Bristol. A date for their trip is still to be set, but Habane is looking forward to living with his family again and meeting his youngest child for the first time. 

Though Somalia is still divided by the civil war, the Law Centre has at least been able to reunite some families torn apart by the conflict.
Habane was captured and separated from his wife and child during the civil war in Somalia
For more information about what makes the Law Centre unique, go to the About us section. If you'd like to get involved in our work as a volunteer, find out about current opportunities in the Get Involved section. And if you'd like to contribute to the Law Centre's future work, there are various ways you can donate conveniently. 

Find out more about the Law Centre's work