'We are part of the Canadian people' now, frostbitten refugee on road to recovery says

After all his fingers were removed because of severe frostbite, a Ghanaian refugee who walked into Canada seeking asylum on Christmas Eve says he's healing well though the pain still bothers him.

"It's going to be like that till it gets healed, so I'm used to it," said Seidu Mohammed, 24. "I think everything's going to be OK."

Doctors could have usedsome of the Ghanaian refugee'stoes to replace his fingers, but he said no. He wantedto be able to play soccer.

• 'They almost froze to death': Refugees frostbitten after walking to Manitoba border

In December, Mohammed crossedthe border into Manitoba from North Dakota on foot and waitedseveral hours on the highway in the cold before a driver picked him up.

Frostbitten refugees on road to recovery

8 years ago

Duration 2:01

Two refugees from Ghana who walked into Canada during dangerous cold in December say it was worth the risk.

He made the journey with another Ghanaian refugee, RazakIyal, 35. The pair had never met before their paths crossed on the way to Canada.

• Helping freezing refugees 'not at all uncommon' in Manitoba border town

Iyalwas also badly frostbitten. All his fingers were amputated except for his thumbs, but he said it was worth it for the chance to live in Canada.

"The president of the Ghana community [in Winnipeg], she has been coming every day, every day. She brings us food, everything we need," Iyalsaid.

"She's been helping us, and most of the Canadian people, too when they see us they have been good to us. NowI think we are part of the Canadian people."

• Ghanaian community comes together to support frostbitten refugee claimants

More asylum seekers coming, refugee says

On March 27, Iyal will have his hearing to determine whether he can stay in Canada. Mohammed will have his hearing on March 23. Both refugees will be represented by Winnipeg immigration and refugee lawyer Bashir Khan.

In the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial 120-day ban on refugees, Iyal said he thinks more people will seek asylum in Canada.

• Families separated, students stranded: The impact of Trump's immigration ban
• Trump's refugee ban throws lives into uncertainty

"For now, I think, because of what's going on in the States now, I think more people will decide that 'Let's come to Canada and try our best,'" he said. "Because most of the people are in the situation that when they go back to their home country, some of them [are] going to suffer of torture, some of them are going to go to prison for all of their lives, some of them are thinking they are going to [be] killed.

"Most people like us, we don't want to go back because of what is going on there."

Manitoba Interfaith Immigration Council officials said theyopened 10 new files for refugee claimants on Monday. Eight of them had walked over the border.

Council workers have met with more than 80 applicants wanting to open refugee files in the last three months. Typically, the council receives 50 to 60 in an entire year.

• 'We saw what happened in the airports': Asylum seekers from U.S. surge into Manitoba

If they're allowed to stay, Iyal and Mohammed hope to find a place to live together.

"We are strong now. We are young and we are strong," said Mohammed. "We are going to make it through life."