International Women’s Day: Samah’s Story
On International Women’s Day, the plight of women across the world is our focus. Especially because the Coffs Harbour area is known as a place where refugees are welcomed.
Samah’s Story
Samah Abdullah is a refugee from Yemen. She arrived in Australia in 2021, via a UN camp in India. It took her five years to find safety, after fleeing political persecution in her homeland. Samah is outgoing and well spoken, from a family that suffered at the hands of changing regimes.
“My journey started when I was five years old,” she says.
Hers is the journey of a woman who refused to conform to bigoted cultural expectations.
“In Yemen, there was always discrimination against women like me. Women who don’t want to wear the scarf, who don’t go by tradition.
In Yemen, for women there is kitchen and there is breeding. That is all.”
A Dream Come True
When Samah learned that Australia had accepted her as a refugee, she didn’t believe it.
“Australia was the only embassy that agreed to see my file. It is a miracle. No other country would even consider me because I am a single woman, from Yemen. When I heard the news it was like a dream come true. Until I arrived in Australia I was still not believing it. Australia is a great country.”
Coastbeat made contact with Samah through a government support agency. She agreed to speak with us on the strict understanding that she did not have to discuss the traumatic details of her past, saying simply:
“The struggle as a woman in Yemen is very difficult.”
Indeed, Yemen has been in civil war since 2011, with hundreds of thousands killed and millions suffering from ongoing famine. It has been called a humanitarian disaster. One psychotherapist we spoke to, who works with refugees in the Coffs Harbour area, confessed that hearing their stories is deeply upsetting. This trained professional admits to needing to debrief with Lifeline before being able to return to their own family.
Finding Sanctuary
However, Samah calls her psychotherapist her “angel on Earth”. It is the emotional care she has met with in Australia that has helped her. Samah’s first experience was in Brisbane airport, where she was met by an officer from Border Control.
“She handed me a mobile, which she started to explain, saying, ‘This is a phone.’ I said, ‘I know ma’am’ and she said, ‘Don’t call me ma’am’ and introduced herself personally.
“I was weeping like a child to be welcomed to somewhere.”
After COVID quarantine in Brisbane Samah was moved to Coffs Harbour. She underwent multiple medical examinations and was enrolled in a compulsory English language course.
Looking Towards the Future
“I asked why I have to do this course. I speak English well. I said to them, I want to work.”
The refugee agency listened to her. Samah took a course in hospitality and found a job. Next is a career.
“I would like to be an interpreter and help women. Women who have come here the same way I have come, who have been through what I have been through.”
But before that Samah has one more hurdle to overcome.
“I want a house,” she says. “A home.”
A Place to Call Home
Samah lives in temporary accommodation, shifting between refugee agency houses and motels.
“Finding an apartment is hard. I don’t have rental history. I am new to the country.”
Under such conditions it is difficult to settle down to study. The trauma she has survived means she cannot share accommodation with others. She has been offered a move to western Sydney, where housing is more available.
“I cannot start again. I have beautiful people supporting me here.”
Samah is a determined, intelligent woman. She has survived extreme trauma, war and multiple acts of violence. Her story is unique to her, but sadly, violence against a woman is not unique. Even in Australia, this wealthy first-world country, six women a month are murdered in what is euphemistically called ‘domestic’ violence.
On ABC RN Tanya Plibersek, Federal Shadow Minister for Women, shared the appalling statistic that in Australia today it is more common for a woman to be the victim of sexual violence than to be a smoker.
All over the world we hear the same story.
This International Women’s Day, think what you can do to make the lives of women safer. Reach out to a friend in need. Write to your local member about safe accommodation for people like Samah. Discuss violence against women with a mate, a brother, a son.
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