Family forced to sleep in van find temporary accommodation
Father expresses outpouring of gratitude after initial appeal raised money
Updated 4.25pm
A Libyan refugee family of seven who spent four nights sleeping in their van have found a temporary home.
Although donations had initially covered the family’s immediate needs, they were also looking for a fixed address.
Without one, father Adel cannot renew his identity documents, return to work or begin rebuilding the family’s life.
The Imam in Malta helped collect €1,500 when the family's story was first published in Times of Malta. The Libyan embassy had pledged to support the family with the rent once they find a property and Adel can start working.
The family of seven was staying in a temporary apartment in Buġibba until Monday morning.
The family was first moved into temporary accommodation in Buġibba on Thursday, after spending four nights in their van, with the support of government agency Appoġġ, which had been in contact with them since Wednesday.
Following an outpouring of support after their story was published, they moved to another temporary apartment in the same locality. After another appeal on Saturday, the family found accommodation in Sliema.
On Thursday evening, the chargé d’affaires of the Libyan embassy said the embassy would cover the family’s rent “for at least six months or more” once suitable accommodation was found.
The family became homeless after being caught between expired paperwork and unaffordable rents, forcing them to sleep in their van during soaring summer temperatures.
They have lived in Malta for nine years after being granted refugee status but lost their home after travelling to Tunisia, where their daughter received medical treatment.
Their Maltese identity cards expired while they were abroad. Although they were issued temporary permits allowing them to return to Malta – and a friend helped pay for their journey – they had no home to return to.The family has an appointment on Tuesday to renew their refugee documents, after which they can apply for new identity cards. But they first need a fixed address.
“We are trapped. I need an address to be able to apply and, without the ID card, I cannot work or do anything,” Adel said.