uks refugeeweek mythbuster 15 web

7/24/2019 Uks Refugeeweek Mythbuster 15 Web

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REFUGEES AND ASYLUMSEEKERSGetting the story straight in 2015



The British Red Cross has a long traditionof supporting vulnerable refugees andasylum seekers, after they ee traumaand persecution.

We are now the biggest single providerof this support in the UK – reaching outto more than 13,000 people every year,in 60 towns and cities.

We help these people adjust to life herein a number of ways: from providingemergency food and clothing, to givingfriendly advice to those settling in a new,unfamiliar place.

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THE RED CROSS AND REFUGEES



REFUSED ASYLUM SEEKER

> has been unable toprove that they would facepersecution back home

> has been denied protection

by the authorities> must now leave thecountry, unless they wish toappeal the decision or thereare legitimate reasons whythey cannot yet return home.

ECONOMIC MIGRANT

> has moved to anothercountry to work

> could be legally or illegallyresident, depending on how

they entered the country> may or may not havea legal work permit.

WHAT DO THETERMS MEAN?

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ASYLUM SEEKER

> ees their home

> arrives in another country,whichever way they can

> makes themselves knownto the authorities

> submits an asylumapplication

> has a legal right to stayin the country while awaitinga decision.

REFUGEE

> has proven to theauthorities that they wouldbe at risk if returned to theirhome country

> has had their claim forasylum accepted by thegovernment

> can now stay here eitherlong-term or indenitely.



Do these sound familiar? They should: they are all real Britishnewspaper headlines. For years now, those who come to the UKseeking shelter receive a largely negative press.

We want to give people the right information and encourage morebalanced reporting. Let’s get the story straight.

TIME FOR FACTS,NOT FEAR

Germany166,800

France63,100

Sweden81,300

UK31,400

Italy56,300

The UK received 31,400 asylum applicationslast year. This was less than Germany(166,800), Sweden (81,300) France (63,100)and Italy (56,300).

Just 41 per cent of people applying for aninitial decision were granted asylum andallowed to stay. Many are initially refusedbecause it is difcult to provide the evidenceneeded to meet the strict criteria of a refugee.Source: Home Ofce immigration statistics, October to December 2014

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Most of the world’srefugees don’t eeto Europe, let alone

the UK. Onlylive here.1%



The number of people forcedto ee their homes last year,across the world, was over50 million – for the rst timesince the Second World War.

However, most people don’tcome to Europe, as thismap shows. They either stayinside their country (‘internallydisplaced’) or ee over theirnearest border. 1

Afghanistan2.7 million

Somalia1.1 million

Syria3 million

Sudan670,000

SouthSudan

508,000

Pakistan1.6 million

Iran900,000

Turkey800,000

UK126,000

Jordan700,000

1 UNHCR mid-year report 20142 UNHCR mid-year report 20143 UNHCR mid-year report 20144 Ofce for National Statistics mid-20135 UNHCR mid-year report 2014

THEWORLD’SREFUGEES

Last year, there weremore than

refugees worldwide.

More than half ( 52 percent ) came from just three

countries, shown here inblack 2. For instance, thefour-year conict in Syria has

swelled recent gures.

There were anestimated 126,000

refugees living in theUK in 2014. 3

The total UKpopulation currently

stands at64.1 million .4

Refugees in the UKtherefore account for just 0.19 per cent

of the population.

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Lebanon1.1 million

13 million The countries

shown in red hostedthe most refugees.

Developing countrieshosted over

of the world’srefugees 5.

80%



TOO MANY DELAYS

> Every year, thousands ofasylum seekers and refugeesnd themselves entirely cutoff from government supportand unable to meet evenessential living needs.

> The government shouldremove the delays and errorsin the asylum system thatleave people destitute.

> Many refugees andasylum seekers come to usfor basics such as food andclothes. Many have children.

NOT ENOUGH DIGNITY

> The government shouldensure that people receiveadequate housing andsupport throughout theasylum process, frombeginning to end.

> We want to see aneffective and efcientasylum system that treatspeople with humanity, endsdestitution, and upholdsthe UK’s responsibilitiesto refugees.

DESTITUTION

The British Red Cross helps overdestitute asylum seekers

and refugees every year.

54% of the destituterefugees and asylum

seekers we saw in 2014were penniless because of

administration problems in theasylum system.

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6,000



42% of initialdecisions were

granted.

TREATED LIKE ADULTS

> A number of young asylum

seekers have their agesdisputed by the Home Ofceand/or social services.

> Unable to provide birthcerticates as proof of age,some children are initiallyassessed as being over 18,leaving them to navigate theasylum system alone.

ALONE AND AFRAID

> These vulnerable children

may arrive in Britain without anyfamily – only to be processedas adults.

> They then face theunsettling prospect of sharingaccommodation with adultswho are strangers to them.

> We believe that everyseparated asylum-seekingchild should have someone toadvocate on his or her behalf.

YOUNG REFUGEES 1,861 applications from

unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

in 2014.310 asylum applicants

had their age disputed.

7 UK immigration statistics Oct–Dec 2013

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NOT AFFORDABLE

> Refugees have a legal right,under UK and international law,

to be reunited with their childrenand spouse/partner, if they arestill overseas.

> Many refugees cannot affordto exercise this right becausethey can’t afford legal help.Since April 2013, legal aidfunding has not been availablefor family reunion in England,Scotland and Wales.

NOT SIMPLE

> Family reunion is often a longand complex process – even for

those who speak Englishas their rst language.

> 95 per cent of people usingour family reunion servicethought it would be very difcultto apply for family reunionwithout legal support.

> The government shouldfund complex family reunioncases and make the applicationform easier to understandand complete.

FAMILY REUNION

We partnered up withlegal providers to help

200 refugees apply for

family reunion.

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Our travel assistance programmehelped 295 refugees reunite with

family members in 2014.681



Not too long ago, Slemanwas nishing his studiesas an engineer in foodsciences at the Universityof Aleppo.

He was thinking about hiscareer and potential nextsteps – like any youngperson in the rst ushof adulthood.

But then war broke outin Syria and everythingchanged.

In 2012, Sleman wasforced to ee his countryat 24 years old.

“I was helping my people byvolunteering with the Syrian

Arab Red Crescent (SARC).I was offering help andmedical support to thosehurt during demonstrations.

“Different groups startedchasing and threatening me– just because I was part ofthe humanitarian aid. I hadto run away.”

Sleman ended up in the UKand claimed asylum straightaway. He also found aBritish Red Cross ofce,to see if he could volunteer.

Now a refugee, andallowed to stay hereuntil 2018, Sleman callshimself “lucky”.

“I’m lucky that I can contactmy father and mother onceor twice a month,”he explains. “Every timeI ring them, my father sayshe wants to die. There isno life in Syria, anymore.”

That is why Sleman isrebuilding his life in the UK.

He wants to carryon studying. He also wantsto keep volunteering andhelping people.

He says: “I like to helppeople. I know what itis like to need that helpfrom someone.”

SLEMAN’S STORY:I’M ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES

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There is nolife in Syria,anymore



In April 2011, governmentforces attacked Marie’s homein the Ivory Coast – all becauseof her father’s friendship withthe former president.

Marie jumped out of a window,barely missing a bullet, whichcaught the side of her knee.

Her house was burnt down:an attack that killed her fatherand injured her siblings.

Fearing for her life, Marie hadto escape in secret. She leftbehind two children, Erica (9)and Adrian (7), who were inanother part of town.

Once she got refugee statusin the UK, Marie turned to theBritish Red Cross to guide herquickly through family reunion.

“The same people that camefor my father were looking formy children too. I had to getthem out of danger,” she says.

In March 2015, Marienally met her children atManchester Airport – after fourlong years apart.

“It’s been so hard,” Mariereects, as she anxiously

waits for her children to walkthrough the arrivals gate.“I can go without money, I cango without food, but I need mykids. It’s like your breath.”

She nally feels she can lookforward to the future. “I’mghting. I want to work,I want my children to behappy and have a good life.

“My life starts today.”

MARIE’S STORY:MY LIFE STARTS TODAY

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I had to getmy children outof danger



British Red Cross44 MooreldsLondonEC2Y 9AL

Tel: 0844 871 1111Fax: 020 7562 2000redcross.org.uk

Published in 2015Cover photo © BRC

The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949),Scotland (SC037738) and Isle of Man (0752).

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 020 7877 7029

uks refugeeweek mythbuster 15 web

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