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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/09/whats-it-like-arriving-in-the-europe-as-a-refugee-share-your-experiences
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| What's it like arriving in Europe as a refugee? Share your experiences | |
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| Syrian refugee Hashem Alsouki risked his life to come to Europe alone in the hope of earning asylum and giving his family a better life. His hopes were set on Sweden, where immigration policies – automatic residency if successful and relatively streamlined family reunification processes – would give him and his family the best chance of being reunited. | Syrian refugee Hashem Alsouki risked his life to come to Europe alone in the hope of earning asylum and giving his family a better life. His hopes were set on Sweden, where immigration policies – automatic residency if successful and relatively streamlined family reunification processes – would give him and his family the best chance of being reunited. |
| We want to hear from other people who have shared a similar experience to Hashem or been part of a refugee’s journey to Europe. Do you have a related story – either as someone who arrived in Europe as a refugee, or someone who works with refugees after their arrival? Share your story using GuardianWitness. | We want to hear from other people who have shared a similar experience to Hashem or been part of a refugee’s journey to Europe. Do you have a related story – either as someone who arrived in Europe as a refugee, or someone who works with refugees after their arrival? Share your story using GuardianWitness. |
| Hashem’s journey brought him to Sweden, whose policies towards refugees have been praised by the UN. The country receives the highest number of Syrian refugees per capita than any other country in the EU. In the 12 months preceding March 2015, the country of 9.5 million processed 81,410 asylum cases. | Hashem’s journey brought him to Sweden, whose policies towards refugees have been praised by the UN. The country receives the highest number of Syrian refugees per capita than any other country in the EU. In the 12 months preceding March 2015, the country of 9.5 million processed 81,410 asylum cases. |
| This number is second only to Germany, with its population of 80.2 million, who processed 202,815 applications in 2014 – over six times as many asylum applicants as the UK and twice as many as any other country in Europe. | This number is second only to Germany, with its population of 80.2 million, who processed 202,815 applications in 2014 – over six times as many asylum applicants as the UK and twice as many as any other country in Europe. |
| Germany, Sweden, and Austria, who take the highest number of refugees in Europe, are in support of the EU imposed immigration quotas – which aims to relocate refugees from Italy and Greece. The number of migrants to have arrived in Italy by boat this year passed 50,000 at the weekend as over 5,800 people were rescued in the Mediterranean. The UK has no plans to participate in the EU scheme. | Germany, Sweden, and Austria, who take the highest number of refugees in Europe, are in support of the EU imposed immigration quotas – which aims to relocate refugees from Italy and Greece. The number of migrants to have arrived in Italy by boat this year passed 50,000 at the weekend as over 5,800 people were rescued in the Mediterranean. The UK has no plans to participate in the EU scheme. |
| Immigration policies, and processes differ widely across Europe, and we want to hear what it’s like in your country: | Immigration policies, and processes differ widely across Europe, and we want to hear what it’s like in your country: |
| Whatever your experience, we want to hear your story. We’ll use a selection of responses in a feature on the site | Whatever your experience, we want to hear your story. We’ll use a selection of responses in a feature on the site |
| You can share your photos, videos and stories by clicking on the blue ‘Contribute’ button on this article. You can also use the GuardianWitness smartphone app or the Guardian app and search for ‘GuardianWitness assignments.’ | You can share your photos, videos and stories by clicking on the blue ‘Contribute’ button on this article. You can also use the GuardianWitness smartphone app or the Guardian app and search for ‘GuardianWitness assignments.’ |