NI refugee integration strategy urgently needed, research finds

REFUGEES who settle in Northern Ireland need more support to help them integrate into the local community, a new report has found.

Researchers from Queen’s University, Belfast spoke to a number of asylum seekers and refugees about their experiences forging a new life here.

They found that a strategy is urgently needed to improve refugee integration into Northern Ireland society.

The study also found the province would benefit from one overarching organisation, such as a refugee council, to support the integration of asylum seekers and refugees here.

The report,

which

was launched last night, aims to support the development of a refugee integration strategy.

The study was carried out for The Executive Office (TEO) by researchers from the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s.

Project lead Dr Fiona Murphy said: “The research focuses on asylum seekers and refugees, and hopes to support better integration for newcomers into society.

“This study found that a refugee integration strategy is urgently needed to improve pathways to integration into Northern Ireland’s society.

“A number of issues that are highly complex due to Northern Ireland’s unique historical and cultural experiences as a society were identified in the research, as well as issues such as housing, legal support and lack of opportunities for asylum seekers and refugees in society.”

A participant who took part in the study, Makhosi Sigabade from Zimbabwe, moved to Northern Ireland in 2015.

Makhosi said: “I came to Northern Ireland as an asylum seeker, fleeing persecution by the government due to my activism against human rights violations.

“There has been support available to me, but I have also had my fair share of difficulties and challenges.

“I think this report highlights the difficulties and challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees coming to Northern Ireland, and suggests how things can be improved to make integration easier for everyone.”

Dr Mark Browne from TEO, said: “TEO commissioned this research to fill the knowledge gap in our understanding of the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.

“While asylum policy is made in Westminster, the Executive has powers to address some of the problems faced by asylum seekers and refugees here.

“It has exercised these powers in the past to place very positive initiatives in important areas like education, health and helping people in crisis.

“This research will now help us develop a refugee integration strategy.”

The research, which engaged with asylum seekers, refugees, services in health, education, labour and housing, will support the development of a number of key integration strategies.

❝ Issues that are highly complex due to Northern Ireland’s unique historical and cultural experience as a society were identified in the study