Survival and livelihood strategies of refused asylum seekers living in the UK Coping with Destitution
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Coping with Destitution
Survival and livelihood strategies of refused asylum seekers living in the UK
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Summary
Coping with Destitution uncovers how the hundreds of thousands of refused asylum seekers currently living in the UK, with no access to legitimate means of securing a livelihood, survive on a day-to-day and longer-term basis. The strategies adopted by destitute asylum seekers have been analysed within a sustainable livelihoods framework, to ensure a systematic understanding of the different types of resources to which asylum seekers do – and do not – have access, and the impact this has on their lives.
This approach also helped to identify changes to government policy that could help prevent destitution among refused asylum seekers. Fundamentally, the need to remain hidden and to avoid any risk of being deported affects every decision made by destitute asylum seekers, and in turn the coping strategies which they adopt.
The survival strategies adopted by destitute asylum seekers are a consequence of asylum policy in the UK. That hundreds of thousands of people would rather live in poverty and in constant fear of deportation – reliant on friends, transactional relationships, commercial sex work or low-paid illegal work – rather than return to their country of origin, suggests the failure of government policy.
It is not acceptable for asylum seekers to continue to live in destitution, and the government has a responsibility to ensure that the human rights of asylum seekers are upheld. The humiliating and degrading strategies adopted by destitute asylum seekers to survive and avoid deportation reflects the need for changes to government and civil-society policy and practice.
All aspects of the asylum system – including the flawed asylum-determination process that often leads to wrongful denial of asylum, and policies that deny access to resources (such as the right to work and access to welfare support) – must be urgently reviewed to ensure that all asylum seekers are able to secure a sustainable and dignified livelihood.
Key recommendations
- Improve the quality of asylum decision-making.
- Provide protection for those in need and those who cannot be returned.
- Ensure access to free legal advice and representation for all refused asylum seekers, in order that they can submit an appeal or submit a fresh claim if appropriate.
- Reinstate the right to work and earn a livelihood.
- Reintegrate asylum seekers into the mainstream benefits system.
- Provide welfare support for all asylum seekers until the point of return.
- Provide access to primary and secondary health care for all asylum seekers.
- Improved support and information should be provided to all asylum seekers by voluntary sector organisations.
Oxfam GB Research report
Author: Heaven Crawley, Joanne Hemmings and Neil Price, Centre for Migration Policy Research (CMPR), Swansea University.
Date of publication: 2 February 2011
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Isaac H. Dziya
MBA(SPM), MSc(GSCM),
FCIPS, FInstL, FCILT,
B.SC. Economics,
BSc Property Management,Cert Ed1
ARICS +447719618637