Why are asylum seekers in the news at the moment?
Quite simply because there are civil wars in all parts of the world and in Europe for the first time since World War II. In the past around 20,000 people annually sought asylum in the UK. Last year it rose to 100,000. This has caused big backlogs in the number of cases being decided. The concentration of large numbers of asylum seekers in places like Dover has placed enormous strain on local services and the Government is now trying to share the burden out more fairly.
Where are they from?
At present asylum seekers come from all over the world wherever persecution, torture, murders and the destruction of homes take place. These include: Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Rwanda and Somalia.
In the past the biggest groups of asylum seekers were Huguenots (1690s), Jews (1880s and 1930s) Ugandan Asians (1970s). Vietnamese (1975 - 92) and the former Yugoslavia. Many return when it is safe to do so; if not, others go on to rebuild successful lives. Famous asylum seekers in the past have been Albert Einstein, Alec Issigonis (designer of the Mini), Sigmund Freud, Lou Grade, Joseph Conrad (novelist), Piet Mondrain (painter) and, further back Daniel Marot (designer of the gardens at Hampton Court). But many are just ordinary people caught up in the chaos of war. The breakdown of communism has caused great social and political upheaval and persecutions in countries formally in the Soviet Union.
Why did they leave their home country?
Abraham, 45, Somalia:
"The police repeatedly followed me. My family were terrified and I was threatened on the street many, many times, I took my family and left".
Pritha, 30, Yugoslavia (Kosovo):
"My sister was raped by the Serbian army and my father was murdered".
Salven, 30, Yugoslavia (Serbia):
I didn't want to die in the war".
Stephanie, 27, Rwanda:
"There was ethnic cleansing. All my family are dead".
Mary, 33 Eritrea:
"My family were murdered in the war. I feared for my life and I am all alone".
Shola, 28, Nigeria:
"My sister went to fetch wood and was beaten in the head from behind. The five army officers raped her. She was only 15".
Shi Li, 35, China:
"I am a known dissident. If I go back I face prison".
Adbul, 28, Turkey:
" I was interrogated by having electrodes on my genitals".
Dan, 23, Sudan:
"The civil war killed so many and left so many starving in my home country. My only wish is that my family can travel to safety as well".
Reprinted courtesy of The Big Issue
But how many are genuine?
The onus to prove that they are genuine is placed on the individual asylum seekers. Asylum seekers must prove that they have a "genuine risk and fear of serious harm", that their Government does not wish to provide protection, that the risk and fear is due to their civil or political status and that they "need and deserve" protection.
This may be difficult if you have fled in a hurry, but even so in 1999 54% were able to prove all of this, and were granted "refugee status" or "exceptional leave to remain". For others, by the time a decision is made it has become safe and possible for them to return home.
Why the United Kingdom?
Although many asylum seekers do not have any choice of destination, for those that do it is because they have family or friends here, because it has a long tradition of democracy and because it has a reputation for tolerance. It is also a signatory to the UN Convention on Human Rights and, with the Commonwealth, long standing links with some of the countries from which people are fleeing.
So, the UK has more asylum seekers than most?
Actually no. Most asylum seekers move to the nearest country to their own. So for example, 38% of the 3.6 million Palestinian refugees are located in neighbouring Jordan. Of all asylum seekers and refugees who reach Europe, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Austria, Sweden, Ireland, Germany and Denmark have all taken in a higher percentage than the UK. Outside of Europe, the United States takes in the highest number accepting 90,000 per year.
How many of them are in the city?
There are 142 households in the city at the moment(NASS figures May 2004).
Who are all those other people I see then?
There are a lot of people in the city who are from different cultures. People are here as foreign students, people are here working legally, There are also some people who are here who work illegally. If you think people are breaking the law you should report the matter to the police.
But we are a "soft touch" aren't we?
No. The benefits system in the UK is one of the least generous in Europe. And payments to asylum seekers are below the amounts which would normally be paid in income support to the same size of household, they get 70% of income support (they get £10 in cash and the rest in vouchers, for a single adult that works out at about £35 a week) and under the new arrangements no choice about where they live.
Do they get televisions and washing machines?
No. The council doesn't provide asylum seekers with televisions and washing machines.
What will happen in the long term?
People who get positive decisions get leave to stay and become refugees. They are then treated like everyone else. They are entitled to work and claim benefits if they need to. Experience shows that refugees work very hard and enrich the society that they have joined.
The majority of people granted refugee status will in time return to their country of origin. For example 1.7 million people were displaced by the Civil War in Mozambique in the 1990s: virtually all have since returned.
Some people don't get leave to stay and the city council works closely with the police and immigration around these issues.
So what action is Milton Keynes Council taking?
The City Council is responding to the needs of people who apply for asylum here. The city will be participating along with all other local authorities, to ensure the national dispersal scheme for asylum seekers will take place.
As the Housing Authority the City Council is all too aware of the shortage of accommodation. The City Council is not using council housing to provide housing for asylum seekers. Social Services and Housing are looking towards the private sector.
Who will pay for this?
The National Asylum Support Service, a Government body, will pay for the accommodation and other costs of helping asylum seekers. Local authorities will reclaim this money through grants and contracts.
I read stories in the newspapers about problems caused by asylum seekers. Can we expect any in Milton Keynes?
Refugees and asylum seekers are no more or less likely to display criminal or unsocial behaviour than any other group of the population. But if they do, the behaviour can often get presented by the tabloids as being typical of all asylum seekers. In reality asylum seekers are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of crime. Many flee persecution only to find themselves picked on and exploited here.
So, how can I help?
we are also keen to hear from people with language or counselling skills to provide support to the people we will assist. At present we have a lot of people from Eastern Europe, but this is may changing. We need people who can speak Albanian, Kurdish and Farsi.
Social Services, Housing, Education, Environmental Health, Social Cohesion, the Police and the voluntary sector are all working together to meet the needs of these people and to minimise the impact of new arrivals on the local community.
Last but not least, check the facts before believing any of the scare stories circulated about asylum seekers.
Refugee Action, a voluntary agency who specifically set up to help refugees are at:
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/infocentre/faqs/faqs001.htm
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