Stranded family of five in plea to legalise status

Members of a stateless family, who have been living in terrible conditions here for over three decades, are seeking help to legalise their status. Three sisters, one brother and their sick mother have been living in Bahrain without any legal documents since the late 1980s, as their late father and sole breadwinner passed away before he could get passports, birth certificates or any identity documents issued from authorities concerned.

Tribune spoke to Sumaya Yadiah, 30, who has been striving to legalise the status for herself, three siblings and a bedridden mother. Ms Yadiah told that her parents’ “negligence” has led to their miserable condition. Born in Bahrain to an Indian father and Sri Lankan mother, the four children weren’t able to enroll in a school or receive medical treatment as they “didn’t exist on papers”.

“My father passed away when we were young and my mother went through difficult times to support us. As we grew up, myself and my siblings got birth certificates from the Health Ministry here, as we were all born in the Kingdom. Situations became more difficult as we grew up. We can’t work anywhere without legal documents,” Ms Yadiah expressed their ordeal. The woman told that they survived throughout three decades by depending on donations and generous hands.

She explained that their condition even hardened as their mother fell sick to kidney failure, requiring costly dialysis processes three times a week to stay alive. She told that a Bahraini donor has committed to bear the expenses of their mother’s treatment, which costs BD225 a week.

Though the family initially sought help from Sri Lankan Embassy, it was denied as the birth and other certificates issued here show them as Indian citizens. The woman said she has approached the Indian Embassy for assistance and is waiting to hear from the embassy officials.     

Ms Yadiah managed to handover a plea to India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is currently on a visit to the Kingdom.

Elaborating more on their suffering, Ms Yadiah said she and one of her sisters work as part time housemaids to support their family. She said they fear to be arrested if they work illegally or even leave the house.   At the same time, Ms Yadiah thanked and appreciated the help they received from Bahrain’s people and authorities.