Leducate Explains: Refugees
Hint - key terms are defined. Just click on the bold blue words to see their definitions!
In this article, we look at what the term ‘refugee’ means and how it differs from the asylum seeker. We explore some of the rights and laws surrounding refugees.
Many of us would have seen stories of desperate men, women and children crossing seas and channels on makeshift boats to reach Europe. Further, many of them drown on the way due to overcrowding on boats or dangerous weather conditions. These stories have dominated the news and social media since 2015, so undoubtedly we have heard the word 'refugee'. But what is a refugee? And why are so many people risking their lives to reach Europe every day?
What is a refugee?
In simple terms, a refugee is a person who has been forced to leave their country and cross an international border to escape war, persecution or natural disasters. Every minute, around 20 people worldwide leave everything behind to escape their homes to find safety in another country. Desperate to flee persecution, many refugees leave with little more than the clothes on their back, leaving behind their homes, lives and most often loved ones.
The latest figures by the United Nations show that there are around 25.4 million refugee men, women and children registered across the world. This figure does not take into account those refugees that have not legally sought asylum in another country.
Asylum seeker or refugee?
These terms are very frequently confused. Essentially, they are both people fleeing their home countries and are unable to return due to a risk to their lives. However, there are some differences which affect their legal status.
What is a refugee?
The 1951 Refugee Convention defines a refugee as someone who is “unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.”
Refugees are protected under international law and must not be returned to situations where their life and freedom are at risk. A refugee is someone who has been recognised as needing international protection.
What is an asylum seeker?
The definition of an asylum seeker is someone who has arrived in a country asking for protection. Until they receive a decision on whether or not they are a refugee and will be awarded protection, they are known as an asylum seeker. In the UK this means they do not have the same rights as a refugee. For example, an asylum seeker is not allowed to work. To be refused asylum means that you have been unable to meet the stringent criteria to prove you need protection as a refugee. So essentially, not every asylum seeker will be recognised as a refugee; however, every refugee is initially an asylum seeker.
The complicated stuff
At the end of 2019, the UK was home to 195,062 refugees and asylum seekers; the UK population at the same time was 66.7 million. This is a very small number compared to the countries hosting the most refugees. Turkey is home to almost 3.7 million refugees, from Syria, Africa and other parts of the Middle East. As Turkey is the crossing point that allows refugees to reach Europe, many, not wishing to seek asylum in Turkey, will attempt to cross the Aegean Sea to Greece; others will cross into Europe via foot. However, an agreement made between the EU and Turkey has made this a lot harder. The EU pays Turkey to stop the flow of refugees into Europe.
That is not to say that there are not serious issues facing displaced people once they arrive in Europe. According to Europol, 10,000 unaccompanied minors (refugee children) have gone missing on the continent alone since 2015. In Greece, there are almost 80,000 refugees and asylum seekers, many of whom live in overcrowded camps.
Source: Time Magazine- Creator: Massimo Sestini | Credit: Polaris
Do people have to claim asylum in the first country they reach?
No, there is no law that requires a person to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. This means many will travel through Turkey and Greece to reach other European countries where they believe they will have more opportunities, or to reunite with loved ones and family. However, the Dublin Regulation (an EU Regulation) was put in place to ensure that if you have claimed asylum in one EU country you cannot claim it in another. The intention of this was to share asylum claims more evenly between the EU countries. The reality of it means that many are stuck in refugee camps for years waiting on asylum decisions, unable to leave or apply elsewhere.
Refugees in the UK
It is easy to think that once people arrive in the UK, their journey to safety is over. However, for many, this is another great challenge they must face. People arriving in the UK in search of safety face a number of issues. Not all will be able to speak the language making integration into society difficult. Social perception of refugees can lead to difficulties such as hatred and isolation. Many will face months of waiting to hear back from the home office on their asylum applications, with over 50% of people waiting longer than 6 months for a decision. Banned from working and claiming benefits vulnerable people are required to survive on asylum support, which is £5.39 a day.
When Refugee status is granted in the UK, this means that the Home Office recognises an individual as a refugee, as defined in the Refugee Convention looked at above. When a person achieves official refugee status, they are usually given an immigration status of leave to remain in the UK for up to five years, after which time they can apply for indefinite leave to remain and apply to become a British citizen.
When given refugee status, they have 28 days to find accommodation and apply for benefits before they are evicted from asylum accommodation, which can lead to many becoming homeless. This is the start of a greater challenge and many find themselves with little to no support.
Refugees and asylum seekers are just like you and me. Any one of us at any point could be forced to flee our country in search of protection and would essentially become a refugee. Human rights exist to ensure our protection when we are most vulnerable. We are entitled to the human rights of: ‘life’, ‘liberty and security’ and ‘protection from discrimination’. Refugees are a product of war, famine, natural disasters and political unrest. It is a human right to seek asylum, and it is a legal right we all share.
Written by Ammarah Balouch
Glossary box
Refugee - Someone unable to return to their country because of fear of persecution for several listed reasons.
Asylum Seeker - Someone who has fled their country to seek international protection. They are not yet recognised as a refugee by the international community.