‘DESPERATE AND DEGRADING SITUATIONS’
Red Cross warning about the plight of refugees in Wales
REFUGEES across Wales can be placed in “desperate and degrading situations”, the British Red Cross has warned. The charity has called on the UK and Welsh governments to do more to help destitute refugees.
In 2016, 823 refugees in Wales used the Red Cross’ destitution services, with mixed results across the country.
The destitution service is supplied to those desperate refugees and asylum seekers who are not in a position to feed themselves and their families.
Some cities saw significant rises in the number of service users. These increases were seen in places that previously had very few people using the destitution services.
Swansea saw a 450% increase, from 10 people seeking support in 2015 to 55 last year.
Cardiff was by far the largest area for people seeking support, which is unsurprising as the majority of people seeking asylum in Wales are in the Welsh capital.
A spokesman for the British Red Cross in Wales said: “Such a level of destitution among asylum seekers and refugees in Wales remains unacceptable and the fact that the figures for Cardiff alone show the number of destitute dependents and, therefore, families is increasing should be of great concern to all.
“Asylum seekers and refugees receiving £35 a week of support are already struggling to meet their basic needs and, when that basic support is withdrawn, they can be placed in desperate and degrading situations.
“People come to Wales from all over the world in order to escape from conditions that place their lives and the lives of their families at risk, including conflict, tyranny and persecution, and we in Wales take pride in our long-standing willingness as a nation to offer them refuge during their time of crisis.
“No one who enters Wales in those circumstances, separated from their former support networks of family members and friends, should become destitute or struggle to feed their children.
“More can and must be done to support asylum seekers and refugees in Wales and we call upon the UK and Welsh governments to work together and with organisations like the Red Cross in order to ensure that we find solutions to this unacceptable situation.”
Overall, Wales saw a 16% reduction in people using the destitution service in 2016 compared to 2015.
Cardiff remains the third highest city in the UK for desperate people using the service.
Even though the total number of people seeking support has gone down, the number of those who have dependencies has gone up.
These figures do not take into account children. This means many of the people coming to the Red Cross for support are not just looking for support for themselves but often families as well.
A Home Office spokesman said: “Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute are provided with free, furnished accommodation. We also cover utility costs and provide a cash allowance to cover their essential living needs.”