Mariam

My three children and I live in this one room. Four other women and their children live in this house and we all share the kitchen and bathroom, so I can’t self-isolate properly.

I go to college, I can read English and I have access to the Internet, so I know how many people die every day. I am very worried about the virus. The other women in this house do not speak English so they don’t understand they should take social distancing seriously.

I can’t take my children to the kitchen with me, so I have to leave them alone in this room. That is not safe, and they cry, but what else can I do? They would bump into the other women and their children. I clean the bathroom each time my children use the toilet so they won’t catch anything.

My daughter had a cough so I decided to self isolate three weeks ago. To prepare, I went to the shops to buy some food, but I found that some items were double price. The normal halal meat I buy is £7/kilo but it had increased to £14/kilo. I didn’t know what was going on and I was so worried. 

The Magpie Project have been sending me food parcels and also some cooked food. I am very happy in this area because the Magpie Project are wonderful and the school are very supportive. The school sent us sandwiches every day in term time. 

I had to flee from my country because my parents and husband disagreed with the government and are in prison. I came here to be safe, not to be like a prisoner in one room with children. I don’t feel that the local authority care about my health, or my children’s health.

I am stressed all the time. I try to keep my children quiet, but we all disturb each other in this house. The neighbours keep me awake, my baby is teething, and I get very little sleep. I worry about getting the virus. If I get sick, who is going to look after my kids? I have no relatives or friends in this country. No one can take this responsibility for me. I have to stay well and fight for my children.