Refugees deserve chance to become part of the community

Published on Friday 13 June 2008 08:54

Scots are proud the country is safe for asylum seekers, says Kenny Hamilton.

NEW research shows two thirds of people living in Scotland are proud the UK provides a safe haven for refugee children fleeing persecution, but there remains widespread confusion about the issue of asylum, with many people grossly exaggerating the numbers of asylum seekers in the UK.

The research revealed more than ten per cent of Scots believed the UK hosts more than half the world's asylum seekers – in fact the figure is less than three per cent (about 302,000 people – fewer than 4000 of which are in Scotland), according to the United Nations.

The poll was commissioned by the British Red Cross to explore people's perceptions of refugees and asylum seekers in the run-up to next week's Refugee Week.

It would seem people in Scotland agree that the children of refugees or young people arriving alone in this country should be treated as children first and migrants second, and therefore deserve the same respect, consideration and rights as all other young people.

In 2006, 3245 unaccompanied children claimed asylum in the UK, with the majority of them coming from Afghanistan (30 per cent), Iran (ten per cent), Eritrea (ten per cent) and Somalia (eight per cent). Reasons included the death of their parents, detention and torture, forced recruitment as child soldiers, persecution due to ethnic group and the political activities of their family.

Young people – particularly those who have arrived in Britain alone – can be very vulnerable. Some have experienced violence and terrible trauma and need extra support. The Red Cross helps them adjust to life in a new country, make friends and access essential services, such as healthcare and education.

In our experience, many of the people that we support express a deep sense of gratitude and are keen on giving something back to the communities in which they live. Many volunteer with the British Red Cross to give vital assistance to vulnerable people, whether that's other refugees or through other Red Cross services like wheelchair loan or first aid training.

To mark Refugee Week 2008, the Red Cross has launched a social networking campaign to give young refugees and asylum seekers a platform to tell their story on sites such as MSN, Facebook, Bebo and YouTube, as well as the British Red Cross website www.redcross.org.uk/refugeeweek.

The Red Cross Movement protects people fleeing conflict throughout the world and that includes those who seek safety in Scotland. Refugees make an enormous contribution to the UK, socially, culturally and economically, and Refugee Week is a chance to celebrate that fact.

There are events taking place all over Scotland aimed at building better understanding, visit www.redcross.org.uk/refugeeweek for more information.

&#149 Kenny Hamilton is head of the Red Cross Refugee and Tracing Service in Scotland