Kenyan asylum seeker dies after waiting hours for shelter in Canada
The woman has been identified as Delphina Ngigi, a widow and mother of four children still residing in Kenya, according to reports from Canada.
A Kenyan asylum seeker died this week after she waited hours in the cold to get into a shelter space.
During a press conference on Friday, members of the African Canadian community identified the woman as Delphina Ngigi, a widow and mother of four children still residing in Kenya, according to reports from Canada.
She arrived in Canada on Thursday and attempted to access the Dundas Shelter at 1 pm on Saturday but was not admitted until 8 pm.
The Region of Peel confirmed the death and said the woman arrived at the shelter on Dundas Street East needing a place to stay on Saturday night.
According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News), Ngigi waited six hours in the cold before she was allowed inside to spend the night in the lobby.
The 46-year-old had a medical emergency the next day and died in hospital.
In a statement, Peel Region said the hospital does not feel the death is suspicious and police were not involved.
Reports indicate an autopsy will be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.
This marks the second death of an asylum seeker in the Peel Region. A Nigerian refugee died last November while sleeping in a tent outside the same shelter.
"We, at this point, have to start asking ourselves, not just as the Black community, not just as leaders and the refugee starving groups and others that are supporting us ... we have to ask ourselves as Canadians whether this is who we want to be," said Kizito Musabimana, founder of the Rwandan Canadian Healing Centre.
Musabimana said it was disheartening that the death occurred during Black History Month.
"At a time when we're supposed to be reflecting on the work of Black people throughout history, we are continuing to see tragedies," he said.
The region, according to CBC News, is currently providing shelter for about 1,200 asylum seekers, but local advocates say it needs to do more than lobby for more funding.
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