Still Human Still Here

Vigil and sleep out in solidarity with the growing numbers of destitute asylum seekers on Newcastle’s streets

8pm Thurs 28 June-10am 29th
Newcastle City Civic centre

Noble 07901990920, Jayne 07985929622

Comments

[Jo Bowman]

Press/ statement of support from Joy Bowman, member of Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR)-

“There are a lot of failed asylum seekers who are forced to sleep on the streets, it’s a very distressing situation. If asylum seekers had the opportunity to work they wouldn’t be on benefits and they wouldn’t be forced into destitution. Sometimes, women asylum seekers who are made destitute are approached by men who offer them a place to stay and then force them into prostitution or unwanted sexual activity. Because of that many women are affected by AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. These people have to put up with all kinds of abuse and if these women don’t agree to what the men ask them to do, they are turned out onto the streets. I have spoken to many asylum seekers, men women and children, it’s very appalling to hear and see the situation they are in. The only thing many asylum seekers want is the ability to work, but how can they work without National Insurance numbers? If they do work they have to work illegally and can be sentenced to prison. There is a lot of bad press about asylum seekers working illegally, getting involved in drugs, stealing and prostitution, but this is not because these destitute asylum seekers want to do these things, they have to do them to stay alive because they are destitute. I’m asking the Home Office and the Government to look at this situation, see the problems these people have, give asylum seekers the right to work and try to help people in this situation. If they did this, their work would be more successful.”

[Joseph.k]

I fully support this campaign. This issue is seldom highlighted in the press and further illustrates the failing nature of the governments immigration policy in relation to asylum seekers.

[Leanne]

I support this campaign. It's very important to raise people's awareness about the difficult situation many asylum seekers find themselves in in this country. Many people are unaware that asylum seekers often face destitution. I also believe asylum seekers should be allowed to work. I hope this campaign is successful in both gaining support for destitute asylum seekers from the general public and getting the government to review policies which result in asylum seekers becoming destitute. I hope the sleep out in Newcastle will be a success.

[Julian Prior]

I support this campaign to end destitution. There is a huge backlog of people that the Government have not returned and many are simply unable to go back for good reasons like poor health or lack of co-operation from their home country. However there is very little reasonable support available for those in this situation, and they are not allowed to work, which forces many into the informal and illegal economies making them very vulnerable to exploitation of many kinds.

I carried out some research into this issue and found out that there are at least 300 asylum seekers that are destitute in Newcastle that I could account for who survive off charities, churches, and kind-hearted individuals simply to survive. I published my report into this situation called Destitute and Desperate that concluded that no-one was providing accommodation for these people in Newcastle.

Open Door North East tackle some of the issues of exclusion and extreme poverty that are being experienced by many Asylum Seekers who have been unsuccessful in their claim for asylum yet have not gone home. Now in Tyneside, after less than one year, we have 3 houses that give a home to 8 of the most vulnerable asylum seekers and we are expanding as quickly as our finances will allow. We take referrals from the two main voluntary sector agencies and work in partnership with churches, community groups, schools and statutory bodies to raise awareness of this issue and challenge some of the myths that have been propagated by the media.

We also campaign for changes to the law that give a fairer legal process and the right to work whilst asylum seekers are in this country. Many do not have their case properly assessed and I believe that there are many bad decisions being made by the Home Office.

Regardless of the rights or wrongs of these people being here to do nothing for them is unjust and inhumane. That is why we are supporting some of the most marginalised people in our country today as very few others are prepared to do so.

[Dave Webb]

The UK government should drastically rethink its approach to asylum. Deportation should be suspended until basic legal rights are restored to claimants and the asylum system can be shown to be fair again. The right to work, even if it is at the cost of a higher tax bracket, is essential to decriminalise the many innocent individuals fleeing persecution but trapped in a complicated and unjust asylum system with the most minimal legal support.

[Olya Bowers]

I think it is criminal to turn people out onto the streets without support and denying them the legal right to work. Jackie Smith has today been appointed Home Secretary and I hope that she has the wisdom to correct this vile situation. It is a shameful scar on the moral face of our country.

[Michael Hudson]

Best of luck with the sleep out. The current situation is a disgrace.

[owen muganda]

I truly support the camapign,driven into destitution,deskilled how then can we be expected to contribute to the Uk economy or to rebuilding our countries of origin.Imagine leaving your life able to see but being blindfolded.That is the feeling we face as asylum seekers having the ability but being disabled by an unscientifically proven political policy of denying an asylum seeker the right to work whilst hanging in a cruel limbo.We need to contionuosly bring pressure to bear on the Government well done Noble.