By Mohamed Kamara | The Watch Newspaper
The Network of Ex-Asylum Seekers (NEAS), a humanitarian organization established in 2009 to support deported Sierra Leoneans, has engaged 40 newly arrived deportees in Freetown. The meeting, held on Friday, October 17th, 2025, at the organization’s office on 19 West Street, brought together returnees, relatives, and friends to discuss the challenges facing deportees and strategies for reintegration.
Welcoming participants, the National Coordination Executive Officer of NEAS, Mr. Daramy, described the organization as “a home and a shelter” for deportees. He said NEAS remains committed to addressing the psychological and social difficulties that returnees face, including accommodation, medical support, food, education, and family reunification.
He commended the cooperation between NEAS, the Human Rights Commission, the Sierra Leone Police—particularly the Immigration Department and the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU)—for helping deportees regain their dignity and self-worth. Mr. Daramy pledged that NEAS would not relent in its mission, especially “at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump’s deportation policies remain unrelenting.”
Speaking at the event, resident consultant Mr. Ibrahim Alhaji Kamara, representing Medico International—NEAS’s German-based partner—assured the deportees of continued support. He urged them to reject community stigmatization and to stay hopeful. “Difficult times come with lessons,” he said, “but they are not the end of life.” He also encouraged deportees to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and crime, stressing that U.S. deportation policies affect not only Africans but also migrants from South and Central America, the Pacific, the Caribbean, and Asia.
The NEAS Counselling Officer, Madam Aminata Haja Kamara, highlighted the emotional and psychological struggles faced by deportees, including depression, stress, loneliness, and suicidal thoughts. She described these challenges as “tests from God” and encouraged returnees to view their experiences as lessons for future growth. “Many deportees have turned their setbacks into success stories,” she said.
The engagement was moderated by NEAS Programme Officer Mr. Yusuf S. Mansaray. Other speakers included Administrative Manager Miss Meseray and Communications Officer Mr. Mark Adams.
Deportees and their families expressed gratitude to NEAS, saying the session had renewed their hope and strengthened their belief that “all is not lost.”
