Understanding the Refugee Crisis: Terminology and Challenges

1. St. Augustine’s Centre Vicky Ledwidge Vicky.Ledwidge@staugustinescentrehalifax.org.uk www.staugustinescentrehalifax.org.uk Twitter - infostaugs

2. So what’s going on? It’s complicated and the media aren’t helping UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) say in 2015: • 644,038 arrivals by sea • 3150 dead or missing • 84% of arrivals come from the world’s top 10 refugee-producing countries • 20% children, 15% women, 65% men

3. So what’s going on? • Bottlenecks across migration routes • 6000 now in the Jungle in Calais • Over 1 million displaced Syrians in refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan • Groundswell of public interest – but the media aren’t helping…..

4. Is terminology important? • It’s crucial • Different rights for different people depending on their status • Terms are not interchangeable • And – they’re people first and foremost!

5. Third country national EEA national Asylum seeker Refugee Undocumented migrant • A person from outside the European Economic Area • A person from a member state of the European Economic Area • A person who has applied for protection from persecution under the UN Convention and is awaiting a decision from the Home Office on this application • A person given permission to stay in the UK as a result of a process which began with a claim and/or assessment for protection under the UN Convention • A person who does not have permission from the Home Office to be in the UK

6. The Asylum Process • Who is a refugee? Article 1A of the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (known as the Refugee Convention or Geneva Convention) states that a refugee is someone who has a well-founded fear of being persecuted for one of the following convention reasons race, religion, nationality, political opinion, membership of a “particular social group” AND is outside their home country; AND the State is either unwilling or unable to protect them from the persecution. • Who is an asylum seeker?Someone who has applied for protection in another country for the reasons above, and has not yet been given a decision.

7. Asylum Support • Bed in a room in a house • They don’t get to choose where they live • £5.27 a day on a pre-paid card • No access to cash • Heavily reliant on charities • People can get stuck in the system for a long time

8. How do people end up on the streets? • Positive decision – can mean forced destitution: • 28 days to leave their accommodation • Varying levels of support from local councils • Not enough time to sort out benefits, accommodation, and to become self sufficient • Negative decision – can mean forced destitution: • 21 days to leave their accommodation • No recourse to public funds • Not priority for nightshelters • Language is the prime barrier to accessing support

9. So what can you do? • Sadly, not a lot. • Asylum seekers are likely to be linked to their local NACCOM charity if they are destitute OR will have a local G4S officer if they are still under their care. • Refugees will be trying to navigate the system • Educate yourselves on the situation in your local area, and link up to your local NACCOM project - http://naccom.org.uk/ and national & regional agencies such as Refugee Action • Read, read and read some more from reputable sources • UNCHR • Red Cross • BBC & Guardian (sometimes!)

10. What shouldn’t you do? • Nobody should give immigration advice to migrants unless they are qualified and registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) • Some migrants suffer from poor advice giving (even if well-intentioned) • Start up any kind of outreach or projects without contacting your local ‘expert’ agencies • Assume people are the same