When rebel forces took over the area where his family were living, it became even more violent. He told us, “In Libya, children play with real guns because that is all they know.” Mansoor feared his wife and children would be killed.

He made the distressing journey back to Libya to bring his family to the UK, fearing the whole time he would be caught. “Even when we stopped over in Tunisia we were scared because it is very close to Libya and people know each other, so even there we had to hide.”

Although safer once in the UK, things were barely any easier for Mansoor and his family. Endless delays and a catalogue of errors by the Home Office added the the overwhelming stress of the situation. After four long months, they had no money, no hope of accommodation and no idea if they’d be allowed to stay in the UK.

“I didn’t want my children to go to Libya to die. I thought about this 24 hours a day. I didn’t sleep at night because that is all I think about.”

Mansoor and his family struggled on for months, depending on the goodwill of his friends to survive: “Without help from friends I don’t know what would have happened to us.”

Thankfully, Refugee Action were there to support Mansoor through the asylum process and get the basic allowance and accommodation his family desperately needed. But there are many more families like Mansoor’s who are in urgent need of help. Your donation today could change everything for them this winter.