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Asylum statistics statement
22 May 2003
Commenting on the latest asylum statistics, Refugee Action’s chief executive Sandy Buchan said:
“Global political events and the violation of human rights are the main factors that determine the number of asylum applications. These new figures show that changing circumstances in Iraq and Afghanistan – countries from which most asylum applicants came last year – have had a significant effect on asylum numbers here.
“To a lesser extent, the many recent changes introduced by the government have also affected the number of asylum applications, simply by making it more difficult for those fleeing persecution to leave their countries for the UK. We are particularly concerned about the imposition of a visa regime for Zimbabweans, which has had a dramatic impact on the numbers of Zimbabweans claiming asylum in the UK, which in the first three months of this year fell by 61 per cent on the previous quarter. As the Home Office openly admits in today's statistics, Zimbabweans are among those nationalities most likely to be awarded protection, with one third of those who applied in 2002 gaining full refugee status and more than half ultimately gaining some form of protection.
“Numbers must be seen in their proper context. There are 13 million refugees in the world, yet less than 2 per cent are in the UK. Last year, Austria received most asylum applicants in Europe per head of population and Luxembourg had a higher ratio of applicants than Britain, which ranked 5th amongst EU states. Twice as many Iraqis applied for asylum than Afghans in the industrialised world, clearly underlining how global events affect the numbers of applicants. In 2002 the number of asylum applicants in industrialised countries fell by 5.4%.
“An obsession with asylum numbers must not be at the expense of a genuine regard for the needs of vulnerable individuals seeking safety here. The way we welcome refugees is a test of the tolerance and decency of our own society.”
For more information please call: 020 7654 7707 or 0161 233 1956 or 07810 757 752 (out of hours).
About Refugee Action
Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. We provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and long-term commitment to their settlement through community development work. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 21 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees.
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