#refugees
#refugees

One in five asylum seekers on Rwanda list is from Afghanistan, charity says

One in five asylum seekers set for deportation to Rwanda are from Afghanistan. [ more ]

www.standard.co.uk

Home Office denies visas to young Afghan musicians, Southbank Centre says

The Afghan Youth Orchestra faced visa denial for their UK tour from Portugal.

The orchestra's tour aimed to raise awareness of Afghan women and girls' plight. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

More than 200 Afghans who applied for sanctuary in UK waiting two years for decision

Over 200 Afghan applicants for sanctuary in the UK have been waiting two years for a decision from British authorities.

The number of applicants waiting for a decision has increased despite the Ministry of Defence's promise to eliminate the backlog by the end of summer. [ more ]

BBC News

Ex-Afghan special forces to have UK relocation claims re-examined

Former Afghan special forces who served alongside the British but were denied relocation to the UK will have their cases re-examined.

Ineligible applications with credible claims of links to Afghan specialist units will be reassessed. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Minister admits flawed decisions led to hero Afghans being turned away

Flawed decision-making led to Afghan special forces soldiers being turned down for settlement in the UK.

The government will re-examine the cases of around 400 special forces soldiers to ensure fair application of eligibility criteria. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Lebanon's economic crisis endures, as does the EU's fear' of refugees

EU grants to Lebanon questioned for lack of impact on its economic crisis. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Why are refugee deaths at an all-time high?

2023 was the deadliest year for refugees and migrants, with 8,565 deaths, a 20% increase from the previous year.

Majority of deaths occurred by drowning in the Mediterranean, with nine percent from vehicle accidents and seven percent from violence. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Relief as Italian court says rescued refugees cannot be sent back to Libya

Italy's highest court prohibits returning refugees to Libya

Refugees in Tunisia welcome the court ruling [ more ]

morehuman-rights

ukraine

London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

3 weeks ago

Ukrainian fighting aged men who fled to Poland will be sent back to Kyiv to fight

Poland is assisting Kyiv in sending back Ukrainian men of fighting age who are evading war to fight for their country. [ more ]

www.thelocal.de

Two years later, two Berlin residents from Ukraine on how war affects their lives

Ukrainian President warns of Russia's new offensive in early summer

Germany supports Ukraine but criticized for not doing enough to help ensure victory

Impact of war: influx of Ukrainian refugees in Germany [ more ]

www.france24.com

We are not in a position to make plans': The uncertain exile of Ukrainians in France

Over 14 million Ukrainians displaced by war, 69,000 in France

Ukrainian refugees in France face uncertain future and challenges with family situations. [ more ]

euronews

Ukraine: Two years of war in figures

Over 6.4 million Ukrainians are refugees due to the occupation by Russia.

Financial aid to Ukraine has seen a significant gap between promised and delivered amounts. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

What do Ukrainian refugees make of Israel's war on Gaza?

The conflict in Ukraine is losing momentum in terms of global attention and support, as the focus shifts to the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Ukrainian refugees in countries like Scotland feel that their struggle against Russia is being overshadowed by the Israel-Gaza conflict. [ more ]

moreukraine

homelessness

www.independent.co.uk

Huge rise in refugees becoming homeless as charities slam dysfunctional' system

The number of homeless refugees seeking urgent housing from English councils has increased significantly over the past two years.

Refugees who are sleeping on the streets have surged, with one in five seeking help in 2022 now rising to two in five in 2023. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Call for refugees in UK to have twice as long to find homes after hotel evictions

Homelessness charities urge government to extend time for refugees to find homes after a significant increase in rough sleeping among asylum accommodation leavers.

Calls for government to double the days given for refugees to move out from 28 to at least 56, with fully funded transition support for housing and benefits. [ more ]

NewsChain

Alarm over rise in refugees sleeping rough after Home Office evictions

Hundreds of refugees were evicted from Home Office accommodation in London, leading to an increase in rough sleepers.

Over 90% of refugees living on the streets had received a positive decision on their asylum claim. [ more ]

morehomelessness

London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

An eye watering 4.3 billion of taxpayers money has been spent on refugees in the UK

Overseas aid diverted for UK refugees reached £4.3 billion last year, with notable increases in spending on in-donor refugee costs.

Concerns raised over the significant proportion (30%) of aid being spent on refugee costs in the UK, indicating potential misuse of Overseas Development Aid. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

In Spain, we don't share Britain's migration panic stop the boats' has few fans here | Maria Ramirez

Spain has received more migrants and refugees than the UK in the first 10 months of 2023, despite having a smaller population.

Unlike in the UK, immigration is not a central issue in Spain's political debate and the country views immigration as a positive source of growth. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Rough sleeping in London up 23% to highest level in a decade

Rough sleeping in London is at its highest level in a decade.

Over half of those counted sleeping rough for the first time.

Refugees face additional challenges with government rules giving them just 28 days to move on. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Number of homeless refugees in Glasgow doubles amid asylum backlog

The number of homeless refugees in Glasgow has doubled in recent months due to the Home Office's plan to clear the asylum backlog.

Mini refugee camps are appearing in London and Liverpool council has declared the situation an emergency.

People granted refugee status are coming to Glasgow from other areas in the UK to seek housing support. [ more ]

morehomelessness

www.independent.co.uk

Migrants suicidal' at former RAF base housing hundreds of asylum seekers

A new report accuses the Home Office of using Wethersfield airfield as a large open-prison camp for asylum seekers.

The report reveals that asylum seekers at the camp are experiencing worsening mental health, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

1 week ago

Social media marketing

Beyond borders: Migrants online

Social media is a vital tool for migrants and refugees in navigating borders. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

1 week ago

Writing

I know the adrenaline of escaping': Henry Cockburn on turning his time on the run into a refugee rap epic

The Tale of Ahmed intertwines the concepts of seeking asylum and mental health struggles. [ more ]

www.dw.com

1 week ago

France politics

Could the EU-Lebanon aid deal backfire on Syrian refugees? DW 05/07/2024

The EU-Lebanon deal worth 1 billion Euros sparked outrage in Lebanon for not addressing governance, corruption, and for being seen as selling out the Lebanese people. [ more ]

www.dw.com

5 days ago

New York City

Germany: Refugee clinging to coach falls onto highway DW 05/13/2024

Refugees discovered traveling secretly under coach in Bavaria. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

New York City

The New York Apartment Where Kissinger Spent His First Years in America

Henry Kissinger's early days in the United States were spent in an unremarkable building in Washington Heights.

The building on Fort Washington Avenue was the first long-term home for the Kissinger family after arriving as refugees from Nazi Germany. [ more ]

Irish Independent

4 days ago

Thousands of Ukrainian refugees to have their welfare cut to same rate as new arrivals under new plans

The Government is aligning social welfare rates for Ukrainian refugees and new arrivals at lower levels. [ more ]

euronews

People seeking safety deserve compassion - not this Rwanda Bill

Refugees deserve dignity and respect

Policy causing psychological harm [ more ]

Independent.ie

4 months ago

Ireland and immigration: The facts - how many men, women and children, where are they coming from and which counties are housing them?

Asylum-seekers are often associated with false claims, but it is important to understand the facts and dispel these mistruths.

Ireland provides protection to refugees and is obligated to do so under the United Nations Convention on Refugees. [ more ]

Independent.ie

4 months ago

How many, where are they coming from and is Ireland taking more than other countries? - a close look at our immigration situation

Asylum-seekers and refugees are often subject to misinformation online.

Ireland provides protection to refugees and allows for family reunification. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

2 weeks ago

Protesters block coach in Peckham from taking asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm barge

Protesters blocked coach taking asylum seekers, declaring refugees are welcome despite police warnings. Over 40 officers attended and eventually removed the protestors. [ more ]

www.standard.co.uk

Number of homeless refugees in London jumps 39 per cent in one month

Over 800 individuals were left without a home in October after their claims were decided by the Home Office, leading to concerns about homelessness in London.

The problem is exacerbated by the short notice given by the Home Office before refugees need to vacate hotels or hostels. [ more ]

New York Post

2 weeks ago

Left-wing politics

Biden's plan to bring in Gazan refugees is national security insanity

The Biden administration is considering accepting refugees from Gaza. [ more ]

euronews

3 weeks ago

Police evict migrants from makeshift camp in Paris

Paris police carry out eviction of underage migrants near Olympics prep. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

North Africa bears the brunt of Europe's externalisation policies: Analysts

Desperate people continue to seek safety in Europe despite efforts to prevent them from entering.

Individuals are fleeing unspeakable horrors and facing challenges to reach safety in Europe. [ more ]

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Russia's invasion of Ukraine inadvertently sparks a Jewish renaissance - in Armenia - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Armenia sees influx of Jews due to Russia-Ukraine war

Mama Jan cafe serves as a meeting place for Armenia's new Jewish community [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

People helping asylum seekers in Europe face rising violence, report warns

Aid workers aiding refugees facing escalating intimidation

Authorities in some countries engaging aggressively with human rights defenders [ more ]

euronews

The plight and hope of Ukrainian and Russian refugees in Serbia

Around 150,000 Russians and 16,000 Ukrainians currently residing in Serbia.

Refugees from Ukraine and Russia seek safety and stability in Serbia amidst the ongoing conflict. [ more ]

www.dw.com

Migrant boat capsizes in English Channel, 1 dead DW 12/15/2023

One person has drowned after an inflatable dinghy carrying 66 migrants and refugees towards Britain encountered difficulties off France's northern coast.

Tens of thousands of people a year have been making the dangerous crossing of the English Channel from France in small boats seeking to migrate to the UK. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Spending foreign aid budget on refugees in UK wreaking havoc'

UK government diverted 4.3bn from overseas aid budget to support refugees in Britain in 2023, causing disruption in development partnerships.

27.9% of the total UK aid budget in 2023 spent on housing and food costs for refugees in Britain, creating value for money risks. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Asylum backlog at over 120,000 despite record number of refugees granted protection

A record number of refugees were granted protection in 2023

Significant drop in asylum claims and increase in withdrawn applications in 2023. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

At last! Afghan heroes set for sanctuary in UK after government U-turn

Britain will review the settlement applications of 400 Afghan special forces soldiers who fought alongside British forces against the Taliban.

The decision comes after an investigation revealed that the soldiers had been subjected to murder and torture by the Taliban after being denied help by the UK government. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Archbishop of Canterbury attacks Rishi Sunak's damaging' Rwanda plan

The Archbishop of Canterbury criticized Rishi Sunak's Rwanda deportation bill and accused the government of a pick-and-choose approach to international law.

The Archbishop argued that the bill would outsource Britain's legal and moral responsibility for refugees and asylum seekers, undermining global standing and damaging the country's reputation. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Afghan hero pilot given asylum now faces imminent homelessness

Afghan pilot who helped Britain in war against Taliban facing homelessness after Home Office changed eviction rules

More than 13,000 refugees with recently granted asylum seeking emergency help from councils in 2023 [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Rishi Sunak says migrants threaten to overwhelm' UK

Rishi Sunak warns of migrant crisis and calls for global reforms on refugees

He emphasizes the need to tackle illegal migration to maintain public faith in politicians [ more ]

LGBTQ Nation

NYC LGBT

LGBTQ+ Africans fled to a UN refugee camp to escape brutal persecution. It followed them there.

Isaac Smith is part of a group of queer individuals seeking safety in South Sudan.

Homophobic violence and discrimination have pushed Smith and others to flee their home countries. [ more ]

The New Yorker

Books

Briefly Noted Book Reviews

Martha Graham transformed American dance with philosophical rigor and innovative works.

Lauren Markham examines belonging and migration injustices through a Greek island's refugee camp fire incident. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Black Lives Matter

Fear, grief, anguish on Berlin's Arab Street' as Israel levels Gaza

Tensions rise in Berlin's Arab Street following police crackdowns on pro-Palestine rallies

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators express shock at alleged police violence during protests [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Black Lives Matter

Why are so many Afghans being kicked out of Pakistan? | Start Here

Over 370,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan due to a crackdown on undocumented refugees.

Deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan are contributing factors to the deportation drive. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Mental health

In Rafah, we sit in flimsy tents as the bombs fall. There is no escape: we can only wait for the worst | Bahzad Al-Akhras

Life as a refugee in Gaza is filled with suffering and uncertainty

The Israeli military's airstrikes have led to a profound sense of hopelessness in the community [ more ]

www.dw.com

Soccer (FIFA)

Berlin's football community joins protests against far right DW 02/04/2024

More than 150,000 protesters gathered in Berlin to demonstrate against the far-right and support refugees.

Many football clubs and fan groups joined the protest, using football as a platform to speak out against the far-right. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Germany news

Into the arms of strangers': child refugees of Nazi Germany remember

The Kindertransport saved over 10,000 children, mostly Jewish, from the Nazis by bringing them to the UK to live with foster families.

An exhibition titled 'I said, Auf Wiedersehen' in Berlin marks the 85th anniversary of the Kindertransport and showcases the emotions and experiences of the children, parents, and foster families involved. [ more ]

www.dw.com

Germany news

Germany: Far-right group protests refugee housing plan DW 12/09/2023

More than a thousand right-wing extremists protested in Gera, Germany against plans to build housing for refugees

The extremist group, Aufbruch Gera, is classified as a suspected extremist case by the domestic spy agency [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

4 months ago

Social justice

Refugees should be treated with care': readers say why they donated 1.3m to charity appeal

The Guardian and Observer 2023 charity appeal has raised over 1.3m for refugee and asylum seeker charities.

The appeal is supporting three charities: Refugee Councils of Britain, Refugees at Home, and Naccom. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Social justice

Refugees are a symptom of collective failure only working together will tackle the root causes | Filippo Grandi

The second Global Refugee Forum serves as a moment of global unity to address the challenge of forced displacement.

Sharing responsibility among countries is crucial in providing support to refugees. [ more ]

Chicago Tribune

6 months ago

Social justice

Op-ed: Division over migrant crisis will breed only more chaos

Chicago is experiencing a housing crisis worsened by the arrival of refugees and asylum-seekers.

The city is facing division and protests due to the housing crisis and the influx of new arrivals. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Revealed: More than 1,000 unmarked graves discovered along EU migration routes

Over 1,000 migrants and refugees who died at the borders of Europe in the past decade were buried in unmarked graves

At least 2,162 bodies of migrants and refugees have still not been identified [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com