Refugee Week, 17th-23rd June, and our Supported Charities Freedom from Torture (FfT) and the London Churches’ Refugee Fund (LCRF).
“When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19 vv 33-4.
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13 v 2.
As the year comes round again to Refugee Week, these are good passages for Christians to have in mind. The number of those seeking refuge and asylum in this country has greatly diminished from that of a few years ago, largely because of more stringent rules and requirements which have been imposed, but is still considerable. In 2012 there were 21,785 applications for asylum. At a time of austerity, when many in our own country are suffering poverty, hardship or distress and when there seems to be increasing opposition to any immigration, there is all too great a danger of rejection of even the most genuine of asylum seekers. Yet few can be in greater need of help than those who have been forced to leave their countries of origin by persecution, torture, rape, violence, or threat of death or serious harm, and arrive in a strange country, destitute and suffering. Love, help and refuge were never more needed. LCRF makes clear at the start of its Annual Report 2012 that the commands to love God and to love our neighbour are at the heart of its work.
Current concerns expressed by FfT, LCRF and other charities in this field such as the Refugee Council and Asylum Aid include the following:
Decision making is getting worse, with more inaccurate first-instance decisions. Currently 25% of refusals are overturned on appeal. One consequence of this is to increase the number of asylum seekers driven into total destitution. Once a decision has been made to refuse their claim, all support ceases, even though an appeal has been brought or the asylum seeker is for good reason unable to return to his country of origin. As asylum seekers are not allowed to work, that means they are totally destitute and often end up living on the streets, unless helped by friends or charities. In 42 out of a sample of 50 cases researched by LCRF the Immigration Judge indicated that the primary reason for overturning the initial decision was that the UK Border Agency case owner had wrongly assessed the applicant’s credibility. Is there still a culture of disbelief?
Even before a claim is rejected, FfT report that most torture survivors are expected to live on just £5 per day – well below the poverty line. This has to cover food and clothing, basic sanitary items and travel costs to carry out crucial daily tasks or attend appointments with their doctor or a lawyer. See further below from LCRF.
Detention. At the end of 2012 there were 1,676 asylum seekers in detention. Many are only detained for short periods but in some cases detention may be for 6 months or more. Detainees can apply for bail but may have difficulty in obtaining legal support and sureties. Since the Government’s decision in 2010 to end child detention the number of children detained has significantly dropped but in 2012 there were 222 children detained at some point. In some cases where there is a dispute whether the person is under 18 the child may be detained as an adult.
Pregnant women (often as a result of rape), at risk in the asylum system. Many arrive in the UK in poor health, some having experienced female genital mutilation, sexual violence or torture. They often need specialist healthcare and support. But they are dispersed to locations outside London and the Southeast, where accommodation is more available and sometimes moved or relocated multiple times. Experiences include: being moved away from midwives, GPs and specialist help that they trusted and suffering mental health problems before and after birth; giving birth alone; crowded and dirty accommodation where they felt unsafe; climbing stairs to their rooms after caesarian sections; with no cash for baby or transport, having to walk long distances after childbirth, and going hungry so as to be able to feed their baby.
LCRF is a small church based charity, founded to make grants to charities and groups helping destitute asylum seekers. Their income is entirely dependent on donations from churches and individuals, the core of whom is 45 individuals who have become foundation donors by making standing orders for a minimum of £10 per month (£120 per year). They aim to increase the number of foundation donors to 100. They have almost no overheads, as all the work is undertaken voluntarily by the trustees and other supporters.
The majority of grants in 2012 were made for food parcels; travel cards, to enable access to centres for meals, advice, counselling or classes, medical and solicitors’ appointments, and reporting to the Home Office (this may include travelling to Liverpool where asylum seekers are required to hand in fresh claims personally – they are not allowed to post them); hygiene packs; and phone top-ups, especially for those in detention centres. Funding has also been made for ESOL classes, food and toiletries for a night shelter, clothing and bedding, nappies and very short term accommodation. Altogether 16 front line organisations were assisted.
Freedom from Torture is the only organisation in the UK dedicated exclusively to providing care and treatment for survivors of torture. These are sometimes so traumatised that it can be many months or even years (they quote one case of 40 years) before they can talk about their experiences and begin the healing process. A huge amount of trained specialist treatment and counselling may be needed. This is a very costly process. One of the effects of torture is to kill a person’s trust in other people. That is exacerbated when they are disbelieved by the UKBA (see first concern above). FfT’s therapy aims to break that mistrust to start with.
Fear is also common, e.g. in darkness, or when they hear a police siren or see someone who reminds them of their torturer. Setbacks occur – a client may be doing well and then take a huge step back if their asylum application is rejected. It is difficult to look forward when there is a real danger that they may be returned to face further torture. Nor is recovery helped when clients become destitute, live in inadequate housing or are homeless. One client is quoted as saying that when he arrived in the UK he thought his journey had ended, but it was just beginning.
This leads to another important service provided by FfT, namely the provision of medico-legal reports and expert medical evidence in support of asylum appeals. These can be critical, particularly when the client has initially been disbelieved. A report on the plight of Tamils threatened with removal back to Sri Lanka was welcomed by the High Court for its careful drafting and detailed research, and the Court accepted FfT’s finding that Tamils with a real or perceived association with the LTTE were at risk of torture on return.
During Refugee Week we shall have an exhibition of posters and leaflets on the notice boards below the Lady Chapel and on the table at the back of the church. These will give some examples of the experiences of asylum seekers asking for refuge and help in this country, and also copies of LCRF’s recent annual report. Please have a look at these – they will add weight to what I have written.
John Willmer
Forthcoming Events for Refugee Week:
Saturday, 15th June, 12.30 to 5.30 pm, in Pond Square, Highgate. FfT’s Hampstead and Highgate Supporters’ Group will have a stall at the Fair in the Square.
Sunday, 16th June, Revd Chris Brice, vicar of St Martin’s Gospel Oak and formerly Advisor for Social Justice in the Diocese of London will be preaching here at the Parish Eucharist
Sunday, 16th June, Southbank. Celebrating Sanctuary Festival. The Refugee Council and other charities in this field will have stands there, and probably a Human Library enabling people to hear the story of a refugee or asylum seeker first hand.
Tuesday, 18th June, AGM of LCRF, 6.30 pm (refreshments from 6.00 pm). Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, off Borough High Street, SE1 1HW.
Thursday, 20th June, at FfT’s offices and garden, 111 Isledon Road, N7 7JW, an evening with John Hegley and Write to Life – drinks in the garden from 6.30 pm, performance 7.30 pm, tickets £10. See leaflets at the back of the church for further details, including how to book.
Refugee Week 17th – 23rd June
John Willmer