THE partner of a woman who has been locked up in a detention centre for eight months awaiting deportation is concerned about her mental wellbeing.
Flora Yennyuy was due to be sent back to Cameroon earlier this year, despite having lived in Hull for seven years. But the flight was cancelled after her solicitor stepped in.
She lodged an appeal in April, but it was turned down and she remains at Yarl's Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire.
A petition was launched to stop her from being deported as the community rallied round to support her.
The online petition has attracted more than 600 signatures.
Ms Yennyuy's partner, Keith McDonald, has been behind the campaign to let her remain in the city.
He said: "This has been a real struggle for Flora. I spoke to her recently and she just wants to get out.
"This ordeal has taken its toll on Flora's mental health.
"It has been very stressful for her, her friends and her family, but we just have to get on with it.
"She needs to get back to some kind of normality."
Ms Yennyuy, 34, arrived in Hull in 2007. She completed a masters degree in environmental technology at the University of Hull.
She has carried out community work with churches in west Hull and has been involved in the city's Open Doors Project.
Ms Yennyuy was also a trustee at The Mental Health Action Group, where she was involved in making the black and minority ethnic communities aware of mental health issues.
Mr McDonald hopes Flora's solicitors will be successful in getting her released on bail soon.
He said: "The High Court deemed the fast-track system to deport people unfair, which has given us hope.
"Her solicitor is looking at what can be done to get her out on bail.
"Hopefully, something can be done soon and we remain hopeful."
Ms Yennyuy came to the UK on a student visa and met a man, who was originally from Cameroon, but is now an EU national.
She applied for a visa as the unmarried partner of an EU national, which was due to expire in 2016.
But, after the relationship broke down, her ex-partner contacted immigration officials and the visa was revoked.
Ms Yennyuy was first detained in March last year and bailed, but was detained again in January, meaning she has spent 12 months in detention.
For the past year, she has been fighting her deportation.
Cameroon is deemed one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Police and military forces have been accused of mistreating and torturing criminal suspects, ethnic minorities, homosexuals and political activists.
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