Student SolidariTee & The Truth About the UK’s Refugee Crisis

By News Editor 2 years ago

Hannah exposes the truth behind the misconceptions and media frenzy surrounding the UK’s refugee crisis.

For weeks, even months, now, headlines have blared about the atrocity that is the refugee crisis between Calais and Kent, telling of Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s scramble to house the mass influx of refugees that illegally cross the English Channel into the UK and of the “ambitious” Rwanda Plan to send asylum seekers across the planet. In reality, the UK is not doing nearly enough to address the influx. This is the truth about the migrant crisis — and what students are doing to help.  

 

The Calais-Kent migrant crisis should not be understated. A record number of people attempted to cross the channel this August, with almost 1,300 people reaching the shorelines of Kent on one day alone. Although tensions have been high between London and Paris for years, ever since Brexit closed the doors of the UK borders, migrant centres in Kent are faced with overwhelmed facilities, resulting in worsening conditions for asylum seekers.

 

The conditions asylum seekers face while they await the decisions on their asylum claims are grim; many people are kept in hotels during the application process and given a small allowance but are not usually allowed to work while their case is being considered. The wait is not brief either: Home Office official Abi Tierney recently told MPs that 96% of asylum claims from 2021 are still being processed — never mind the 60,000 asylum claims made in the first half of 2022.  

 

In reaction to the crisis in Kent, the anti-immigration camp poses two questions: “Why does everyone seem to want to come to the UK?” and “Why don’t they just enter legally?” Firstly, despite the chaos at the border, out of every 100 refugees crossing the Mediterranean into Italy (the first point of entry into the European continent), only five aim to enter the UK. Over half of these people have family ties in the UK, and most others likely speak or are learning to speak English. The UK houses far fewer refugees than other European countries, including Germany and Italy.  

 

Credit: Unsplash

 

To address the latter question, not only has government policy shut down almost every safe and legal route for refugees to enter the UK, but most refugees are usually unable to even obtain legitimate documentation, such as a passport, from their defective, war-torn home countries. Or, if passports were once obtained, they are often lost in active war zones. Most refugees entering the UK come from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Eritrea, and Afghanistan, ranked some of the most dangerous countries in the world by the Global Peace Index. Currently, the UK has nine “safe and legal” routes open to asylum seekers. Five are country-specific, and the other four don’t pull nearly enough weight to offer refugees a real shot at being granted asylum.  

 

SolidariTee, an international student-led charity fighting for long-term change in the refugee crisis, has a twofold mission. First, it seeks to raise awareness about the treatment of refugees in Europe; second, it collects funds for legal and psychological aid for refugees by selling T-shirts and hosting fundraising events.  

 

In a discussion with the St Andrews chapter of SolidariTee, a committee member shared that, “Members of Solidaritee talk about the ‘refugee crisis’ in single quotation marks, because it implies that there are too many refugees in Europe, invoking images of crowded camps. Yet there are other reasons why these camps are well over capacity – there simply aren’t enough of them, and asylum claims are taking far too long to be processed. This has recently been the case in Kent, where many asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their refugee status have been residing in marquees for years.”  Perhaps the problem, then, is not that there are “too many” people wanting to enter the UK, but that the British government is not nearly well equipped enough to accommodate them.  

 

Instead of proposing to grow and fortify facilities for asylum seekers, Braverman has assured the public that her “dream” is to see the first flight leave for Rwanda. Braverman hopes that the proposed Rwanda Plan would deter people from crossing into the UK illegally. However, migrant numbers have risen since the policy was announced and, due to legal and moral push back from charities and campaign groups, the Rwanda Plan is on hold until a legal decision is reached.  

 

Despite Braverman’s ambitious plans to erase the refugee crisis altogether, a new migrant labor force may provide an economic opportunity for the UK. A survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry found that a lack of access to labor is threatening the competitiveness of the UK’s labor market.  

 

Credit: Unsplash

 

Matthew Percival, the CBI’s director for skills, argues that, “It is crystal clear that labour market shortages are having a material impact on firms’ ability to operate at full capacity, let alone grow.” To reframe the perspective that there is “no space” for asylum seekers, it’s essential to account for the empty space in the economy that exists for asylum seekers to fill. A true “win-win” situation, this would not only provide work opportunities for asylum seekers but would also boost the economy and recover companies affected by labor shortages.  

 

SolidariTee is one of many organizations and charities that are disseminating the perception that it’s time to stop the “send them back” discourse and treat refugees and asylum seekers with dignity. As a SolidariTee committee member emphasized, “it’s important to recognize that asylum seekers would not be leaving their home countries and uprooting their whole lives if they didn’t have to. They should not be talked about or thought of as opportunists. The vast majority of asylum seekers really need our help to find new homes. We should treat asylum in the same way that we would like to be treated under the same circumstances, and this can be done through supporting SolidariTee’s work.” 

 

The truth of the matter is that, as long as people continue to be displaced by violent war and oppressive governments, the refugee crisis will not stop. Severely politicizing the issue, ignoring its root problems, nor sending refugees away on a plane will make the problem go away.  

 

To help on campus, get involved with SolidariTee or with Refugee Action St Andrews (RASA). 

To help off campus, get involved with charities such as Care4Calais by donating online or donating old winter coats at any drop-off point, linked here: https://care4calais.org/thedropoffmap/. Find more ways to help on the Care4Calais website or explore other charities and NGOs addressing the crisis.  

Comments

comments

Tags: , , ,

560 thoughts on “Student SolidariTee & The Truth About the UK’s Refugee Crisis”

  5. Thanks, I’ve recently been searching for information approximately this subject for ages and yours is the best I’ve came upon so far. But, what concerning the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?

    Reply

  10. Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your website in internet explorer, would check this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your excellent writing because of this problem.

    Reply
  33. Pingback: joker gaming

  40. I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent info I was looking for this info for my mission.

    Reply
  57. Pingback: shanghai jobs

  65. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

    Reply

  80. Does your website have a contact page? I’m having problems locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an e-mail. I’ve got some recommendations for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great site and I look forward to seeing it expand over time.

    Reply

  174. An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

    Reply

  268. My brother suggested I might like this blog. He was totally right. This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!

    Reply

  311. I’ve read some good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much effort you put to create such a great informative site.

    Reply

  325. Appreciating the persistence you put into your website and in depth information you offer. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

    Reply

  427. Aw, this was a really nice post. In concept I wish to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and precise effort to make a very good article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and in no way seem to get something done.

    Reply

  475. Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.

    Reply

  481. I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site :).

    Reply

  482. Very great post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve really loved browsing your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your rss feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!

    Reply

  483. I am not positive the place you are getting your info, however great topic. I needs to spend some time studying much more or working out more. Thank you for great info I used to be on the lookout for this info for my mission.

    Reply

  501. I just like the helpful information you supply in your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and take a look at once more here frequently. I’m quite certain I’ll be told lots of new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the next!

    Reply
  503. Pingback: Kampus Tertua
  506. Pingback: french bulldog texas breeder

  508. I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.

    Reply
  513. Pingback: Queen Arwa University EDURank
  516. Pingback: Queen Arwa University digital identity

  517. I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me. In my opinion, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.

    Reply
  518. Pingback: Queen Arwa University Journal
  522. Pingback: Kuliah Online
  526. Pingback: 918kiss

  533. Greetings from Carolina! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, good blog!

    Reply

  537. Tonic Greens: An Overview Introducing Tonic Greens, an innovative immune support supplement meticulously crafted with potent antioxidants, essential minerals, and vital vitamins.

    Reply

  541. Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog web site? The account aided me a appropriate deal. I have been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered brilliant transparent concept

    Reply

  558. Excellent weblog here! Also your website a lot up very fast! What web host are you the usage of? Can I am getting your associate hyperlink to your host? I want my website loaded up as fast as yours lol

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

THE STAND