The Plight of Refugees & Asylum Seekers in the UK

With multiple crises and challenges to deal with, such as the cost of living crisis, the topic of refugees often leaves people feeling uncertain and ambivalent due to its politicisation and complexity. There is a lot to wrap your head around but on a basic level, there should be some concrete regulations always in place. Basic human rights should be met. Right? There are dozens of news headlines about the crisis every day but one that got a lot of attention recently is the United Nations refugee agency accusing Rishi Sunak's government of "extinguishing the right to seek refugee protection in the UK" with a controversial new law aimed at stopping small boats from crossing the Channel.

Is the UK genuinely doing enough [its basic human duty] to protect those seeking safety and protection from:

• Persecution based on race, religion, nationality, or political/social standing

• War

• Natural disasters (which are being increased by climate change)

According to Amnesty International, the United Nations and a lot of compassionate, not soulless people - the answer is no. The government's proposed law to ban asylum seekers who arrive in the UK by irregular means, including those who cross the English Channel by boat is cruel and divisive. At this point, we are going to force people who have already fled unimaginable horrors to be confronted with another ugly face of humanity. Asylum seekers will be detained, deported, and banned from re-entering the country, with almost all appeal rights stripped away, except for unaccompanied children and those in specific exceptional circumstances. This goes against the 1951 Refugee Convention and may breach the UK's obligation not to expel people to unsafe places where they could face human rights abuses. What should we make of it all?

The Impact of Current Policies and Attitudes

The impact of current policies and attitudes towards refugees and asylum seekers in the UK is immense and devastating. People are being forced to flee their homes and country due to violence, persecution, or war, only to be met with delays in processing, inadequate housing and healthcare, and a lack of access to legal representation. These experiences are all too common, and they are a direct result of the current system's harmful policies and attitudes. Overall, the UK's approach to refugees and asylum seekers has been shaped by a complex mix of historical, geopolitical, and domestic factors. While the UK has a long history of taking in refugees, there are decades of hostility and anti-immigrant sentiment. The issue remains politically contentious to the point of demonizing refugees and fear-mongering the British public - which tends to work in a vicious cycle.

Current stuff you can read about in the news:

· Young asylum seekers are, agree experts, commonly coerced into criminal activity.

· Rise in Albanian asylum seekers may be down to criminal gangs.

· British taxpayers are paying billions for immigration.

Just some thoughts on that, (not going to refute any of it, just expand on how complicated the matter does get):

• Asylum-seeking children are also being kidnapped, and people arranging safe passage for migrants are often organised crime gangs and force those people into dangerous situations to pay off debts. Yeah, poverty can lead to criminality. What a revelation.

• Not every refugee or asylum seeker is a criminal.

• And speaking of £££, there is a huge contradiction in the UK government's immigration policy, which spends over £1bn a year on billeting able-bodied immigrants in hotels but also prevents them from working. At the same time, businesses in the UK are facing labour shortages, with a shortfall of workers in care, health, building, and other sectors. Immigrants could fill this labour gap and benefit the UK economy. Despite public ambivalence towards immigration, at this point, the British public need immigration to support the economy.

It's weird to argue the case of safety for other human beings just by arguing that they can be helpful to us. But this is where the road of capitlaism has led us... This quote makes you think about a lot: "Look at Stockholm, look at Munich, look at New York-- who's picking up the garbage, cleaning the toilets? Who's doing the work? Us. Who's doing the living? Them. But in ten, twenty years, we'll be the ones running the computers, the machines, the *infrastructure*, and they'll have nothing left but poems and stories."

"So they'll still do all the living," Maher replied, "and we'll still do all the work.”

― Omar El Akkad, What Strange Paradise

What will help break the cycle is providing refugees with, adequate resources, including access to education and employment opportunities that can help them rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society, rather than resorting to criminal activity out of desperation or working lower level jobs with no oppertunity for growth. Especially knowing this:

• In the past decade, the global refugee crisis has more than doubled in scope, with 117.2 million people estimated to be forcibly displaced or stateless in 2023, according to UNHCR's estimations – half of those being children.

• Over 70% of the world's refugees and internally displaced people come from the most climate-vulnerable countries, and they will be the first to suffer as climate shocks and extreme weather conditions continue in 2023.
  

“Recognise yourself in he and she who are not like you and me.” ― Carlos Fuentes

Compassion is the key to unlocking a better future for refugees and asylum seekers - not just for them, but for society as a whole. Refugees and asylum seekers shouldn’t be viewed as a burden or even a threat to national security. Ultimately that view harms the most vulnerable among us. In so many ways refugees and asylum seekers can bring immense benefits to their new communities - from new perspectives and cultural diversity to fresh skills and a willingness to contribute. By listening to the voices of refugees and asylum seekers themselves, as well as experts, policymakers, and civil society groups, we can begin to build a more compassionate and inclusive society.

By supporting and advocating for policy change (among other things), we can ensure safe and humane routes for asylum seekers and migrants to travel to the UK, such as through humanitarian visas, expanded resettlement schemes, and pathways for family reunification, work, or study, we can create a more workable solution that benefits everyone. Despite progress made, negative attitudes and misconceptions persist, and we have to figure out how to continue to work towards greater understanding and empathy. Ultimately, building a more welcoming and inclusive society benefits us all, and requires a collective effort from individuals, communities, and institutions. It's time for the government to shift their focus to fixing the UK's asylum system instead of pursuing a cruel and unworkable bill.

The 10 largest refugee crises to know about in 2023

· Syria: The ongoing conflict in Syria has resulted in over 6.7 million refugees and 6.1 million internally displaced people (IDPs).

· Venezuela: The economic and political crisis in Venezuela has led to over 5.6 million people fleeing the country as refugees or migrants.

· Afghanistan: Decades of conflict and instability have resulted in over 2.7 million refugees and 4.1 million IDPs in Afghanistan.

· South Sudan: The ongoing conflict in South Sudan has resulted in over 2.2 million refugees and 1.8 million IDPs.

· Myanmar: The persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority has led to over 1.1 million refugees in neighbouring countries.

· Somalia: Conflict and drought have led to over 900,000 refugees and 2.6 million IDPs in Somalia.

· Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Ongoing conflict and violence have resulted in over 831,000 refugees and 5 million IDPs in DRC.

· Central African Republic (CAR): Ongoing conflict has resulted in over 675,000 refugees and 694,000 IDPs in CAR.

· Eritrea: Political repression and mandatory national service have led to over 500,000 Eritrean refugees worldwide.

· Ethiopia: Conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Tigray have resulted in over 466,000 refugees and over 2 million IDPs in Ethiopia.

Also interesting: 8 ways to solve the world refugee crisis - Amnesty International