‘Two-tier’ System Leaves Asylum Seekers Destitute
The U.K.’s two-tier system of refugee protection puts people who are granted asylum at risk of homelessness and destitution, the BBC reported.
An all-party parliamentary group on refugees released a report claiming that people granted refugee status receive less state support than those arriving through resettlement programs.
With the government cutting off all support after the “move on” period of 28 days, refugees find it difficult to integrate, leaving “too many newly recognized refugees homeless and destitute,” according to the report.
The report, which calls for the creation of a new position of a minister of refugees, also warns that lack of English-language courses and a weak overall integration strategy contribute to the problems, with refugees often unaware of how to access existing support.
Malta Suggests New Cash-for-Refugees System in the E.U.
Malta proposed that E.U. member states receive 60,000 euros ($65,000) for every refugee they accept over their quota, or pay the same amount if they fail to take in their required share, Reuters reported April 24.
The proposal is meant to encourage eastern European countries that have so far refused to take in their allocation of refugees and help alleviate pressure from countries that have seen a massive influx, especially Greece and Italy.
“In order to overcome the political obstacle to receive an unknown number of persons … an E.U. overall cap for allocations could, for example, be set at 200,000 applications per calendar year,” the proposal read.
Morocco Accuses Algeria of Forcing 54 Syrian Refugees Across the Border
Morocco claims Algerian authorities left 54 Syrian refugees stranded at the Morocco-Algerian border, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said April 23.
According to the statement, the refugees attempted to enter Morocco through the border town of Figuig after being expelled by Algerian authorities between April 17 and 19.
“It is immoral and unethical to manipulate the moral and physical distress of these people, [and] to sow trouble in the Morocco-Algerian border,” the ministry statement said.
The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the accusations in a statement to its state news agency, and added that it was Morocco that attempted to send the refugees to Algeria.
“[Morocco’s envoy] was given a categorical denial of the false allegations, and it was shown they were totally unfounded and aimed at harming Algeria,” the statement read.
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