According to Refugee Action website, the present government cuts off the accommodation and financial support to asylum seekers, 21 days after a final claim is refused, producing a worrying destitution.
An example is the case of Ibrahim, who was an opposition activist in Darfur. He fled to the UK after his family suffered violent attacks from armed men due to his political activities at university. His initial claimed was refused by the British government for lack of evidence after receiving poor legal advice, turning into a destitute refugee.
However, he didn’t go back to Sudan, because of the unsafely circumstances. Instead he decided to stay in the UK, sleeping in railway stations. Months later, he was able to find proper legal advice, put a new claim, getting refuge legal status this time.
Ibrahim managed to solve his problem. Now he has a legal residence status. However, many refugees, living in the UK are still destitue.
Refugee Action has made short film, that was uploaded to their youtube channel and their facebook site featuring different asylum seekers victims of destitution, talking about the impacts of it on their lives and their fears of returning home. Dave Garrat, director of operations of Refugee Action, also takes part on the film, to talk about this problem.
Short Film. The Destitution Trap: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0-3lMOB4io
This is a really good example of how NGOs are using electronic resources to get people involved to influence immigration policy.
ReplyDeleteDestitution has been a very old problem associated with many refugees and asylum seekers and the case of Ibrahim is a good reflection of the lives of many victims. The video on You Tube proves to be a good communication tool to involve many in the campaign.
Although this campaign is ongoing it promises to serve as a model pattern for many NGOs as well as ultimately, influence the current immigration policy it so badly needs.
I like the idea of them using the internet to provide information but then again for most of these destitute people are they easily able to access the internet is the big question otherwise it is a waste of resources.
ReplyDeleteCertainly the Ibrahim story has a good ending although considering how long it took him to get his asylum status how much does the internet make a diffrence?
I personally agree with both arguments...we must admite that there positive and negative outcomes of the use of the internet in order to try and help migrants in general.
ReplyDeleteBut what memz said made me think as well, because if the target people are for example asylum seekers, they will not think of using the internet in order to seek for help or even they might not know how to access it. Many of them come from places where they don't even have schools their main deed is to work for survival... so more should be done, the internet is just a tool used by NGOs to inform and give help to those in trouble it is not the main tool, it is not what they only need to be properly treated....they need more