OA053592015

The Appellant is a child of Palestinian origin, residing in a refugee camp in Lebanon with her elderly grandparents. The appeal came before me for hearing on 14 March 2018, when I found an error of law and adjourned the appeal for a resumed hearing, due to the lack of availability of an Arabic interpreter. A copy of that decision is appended.

At the resumed hearing, Ms Jegarajah sought to serve an UNRWA slip from Nida R. Abussaid, clinical psychiatrist in respect of the Appellant dated 20 April 2018. Mr Kotas had no objection to its admission. Ms Jegarajah confirmed that she was relying on two bundles and a skeleton argument.

When asked how that made her feel, the Sponsor said that when he visited her one month ago she held onto him and did not want him to leave. He said that she had grown into a really beautiful girl but unfortunately she is not being looked after well. He said that she takes it upon herself to do the shopping but this is a refugee camp and is very dangerous. In terms of her mental health, the Sponsor said that she is happier when he is there.

The Sponsor then described the place she is living in, which is a one bedroom house in the refugee camp made of breezeblocks and concrete.

The Sponsor was asked how he was able to cope with this knowledge to which he responded: " What can I say and do: I have been to court twenty times doing my best to bring her here." He was asked about his former wife and whether she helped and he said that she got married again and her husband restricted her from seeing any members of her family including her daughter. When asked why Fatme, the neighbour, could not take his daughter to school he said that she works for the Red Crescent and that his daughter goes early to school and the neighbour is an old woman. He confirmed that he still had