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| Failed asylum seekers in Scotland living below UN global poverty threshold | Failed asylum seekers in Scotland living below UN global poverty threshold |
| (6 months later) | |
| Hundreds of failed asylum seekers are living in Scotland on less than the UN's global poverty target of 77 pence ($1.25) a day. | Hundreds of failed asylum seekers are living in Scotland on less than the UN's global poverty target of 77 pence ($1.25) a day. |
| Pregnant women, children and people with disabilities are among those who have been left destitute on Scotland's streets, according to a report by the Scottish Poverty Information Unit (pdf) which is based at Glasgow Caledonian University. The UN benchmark is aimed primarily at raising incomes in developing countries. | Pregnant women, children and people with disabilities are among those who have been left destitute on Scotland's streets, according to a report by the Scottish Poverty Information Unit (pdf) which is based at Glasgow Caledonian University. The UN benchmark is aimed primarily at raising incomes in developing countries. |
| The report's author, Morag Gillespie of SPIU, said the levels of poverty she found were "dreadful" and that many interviewees were literally penniless with no legitimate means of income. | The report's author, Morag Gillespie of SPIU, said the levels of poverty she found were "dreadful" and that many interviewees were literally penniless with no legitimate means of income. |
| She said: "I am an experienced researcher in the field of poverty but I was shocked at the scale of the problem and the accounts I heard: people literally trying to work out where the next meal would come from; a person forced to sleep in a church cupboard. This is a hidden crisis. I was upset at what I found and as a UK citizen I am affronted that the government allows this to happen." | She said: "I am an experienced researcher in the field of poverty but I was shocked at the scale of the problem and the accounts I heard: people literally trying to work out where the next meal would come from; a person forced to sleep in a church cupboard. This is a hidden crisis. I was upset at what I found and as a UK citizen I am affronted that the government allows this to happen." |
| The report states that 1,849 destitute people were given emergency grants from a charity called the Refugee Survival Trust from 2009 to 2012. | The report states that 1,849 destitute people were given emergency grants from a charity called the Refugee Survival Trust from 2009 to 2012. |
| The recipients were mostly male (76%) but included 128 families with children, 21 pregnant women and 25 new mothers. | The recipients were mostly male (76%) but included 128 families with children, 21 pregnant women and 25 new mothers. |
| Almost half (49%) were homeless, including families with children, 26 people with mental health issues, four disabled people and five pregnant women and two new mothers. The asylum seekers came from 67 countries, most often Iran, Iraq and Eritrea. Some interviewees had been in the asylum system for more than a decade. | Almost half (49%) were homeless, including families with children, 26 people with mental health issues, four disabled people and five pregnant women and two new mothers. The asylum seekers came from 67 countries, most often Iran, Iraq and Eritrea. Some interviewees had been in the asylum system for more than a decade. |
| The independent study was commissioned by the British Red Cross, Refugee Survival Trust and the Scottish Refugee Council. | The independent study was commissioned by the British Red Cross, Refugee Survival Trust and the Scottish Refugee Council. |
| SPIU recommends urgent changes to the asylum system, including support for pregnant women and measures to help the homeless and organisations supporting them. | SPIU recommends urgent changes to the asylum system, including support for pregnant women and measures to help the homeless and organisations supporting them. |
| The report says the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) should allow asylum claims to be submitted in Scotland and that "end-to-end support" – including accommodation and a system of cash payments – should be given to people through all stages of the asylum system until they are either granted status or leave the UK. The report also called for asylum seekers to be given the right to work if they remain in the UK for six months or more. | The report says the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) should allow asylum claims to be submitted in Scotland and that "end-to-end support" – including accommodation and a system of cash payments – should be given to people through all stages of the asylum system until they are either granted status or leave the UK. The report also called for asylum seekers to be given the right to work if they remain in the UK for six months or more. |
| Gary Christie, of the Scottish Refugee Council, said: "Every day our case workers deal with people who are in desperate situations. We see people who have been tortured in Iran yet have been refused protection; others fleeing for their lives from the violence of war in Somalia but who don't meet the terms of the refugee convention or pregnant women whose cases have been turned down and don't qualify for any support until they reach 32 weeks. While families are supposed to receive support until they leave or are granted status, our research shows that, terrifyingly, some are falling through the gaps. The system is complex, difficult to understand and is not working." | Gary Christie, of the Scottish Refugee Council, said: "Every day our case workers deal with people who are in desperate situations. We see people who have been tortured in Iran yet have been refused protection; others fleeing for their lives from the violence of war in Somalia but who don't meet the terms of the refugee convention or pregnant women whose cases have been turned down and don't qualify for any support until they reach 32 weeks. While families are supposed to receive support until they leave or are granted status, our research shows that, terrifyingly, some are falling through the gaps. The system is complex, difficult to understand and is not working." |
| A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: "Failed asylum seekers need not face destitution if they simply comply with the law and the decisions of our courts and go home. There are routes of return home for all the nationalities once their asylum claims have been refused and the courts have confirmed that they have no need for protection and no legal right to stay in the UK. | A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: "Failed asylum seekers need not face destitution if they simply comply with the law and the decisions of our courts and go home. There are routes of return home for all the nationalities once their asylum claims have been refused and the courts have confirmed that they have no need for protection and no legal right to stay in the UK. |
| "Assisted Return schemes exist to help failed asylum seekers return home with support to help them re-integrate. Further help and advice on Return programmes can be readily obtained from the charity Refugee Action, [ …which] work[s] in partnership with the UK Border Agency to help such individuals return home." | "Assisted Return schemes exist to help failed asylum seekers return home with support to help them re-integrate. Further help and advice on Return programmes can be readily obtained from the charity Refugee Action, [ …which] work[s] in partnership with the UK Border Agency to help such individuals return home." |
| Case study: Michael | Case study: Michael |
| A businessman from Zimbabwe, Michael had his own successful import/export business. His cousin was the chairman of the local Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) branch, at the time, the only political party in opposition to Mugabe's government. While in the UK on business Michael received a phonecall from his secretary. The office had been ransacked and his life was under threat. She told him he could never come back. His claim for asylum in the UK, however, was refused and he has been destitute for almost two years. | A businessman from Zimbabwe, Michael had his own successful import/export business. His cousin was the chairman of the local Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) branch, at the time, the only political party in opposition to Mugabe's government. While in the UK on business Michael received a phonecall from his secretary. The office had been ransacked and his life was under threat. She told him he could never come back. His claim for asylum in the UK, however, was refused and he has been destitute for almost two years. |
| After his case was refused, Michael stayed with friends – sleeping on people's sofas. Over the last few months, however, Michael has been unable to stay at his friend's any longer and has been sleeping on the floor of a church hall, which operates as an emergency night shelter. | After his case was refused, Michael stayed with friends – sleeping on people's sofas. Over the last few months, however, Michael has been unable to stay at his friend's any longer and has been sleeping on the floor of a church hall, which operates as an emergency night shelter. |
| "It is difficult to sleep there. There are no showers, and the food is not always good." | "It is difficult to sleep there. There are no showers, and the food is not always good." |
| He worries about the fact that it is what supermarkets are throwing away – often food that has gone off. He gets his clothes from charity shops but is always looking out for things people are finished with. He tries to look good to maintain his self respect and to keep his esteem up. | He worries about the fact that it is what supermarkets are throwing away – often food that has gone off. He gets his clothes from charity shops but is always looking out for things people are finished with. He tries to look good to maintain his self respect and to keep his esteem up. |
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