Northern Ireland

Civil servants and councils 'have power' to help asylum seekers

Makhosi Sigabade, Sipho Sibanda and Athi Sileve at the launch of a report highlighting the human rights of Asylum seekers Picture by Mal McCann.
Makhosi Sigabade, Sipho Sibanda and Athi Sileve at the launch of a report highlighting the human rights of Asylum seekers Picture by Mal McCann. Makhosi Sigabade, Sipho Sibanda and Athi Sileve at the launch of a report highlighting the human rights of Asylum seekers Picture by Mal McCann.

CIVIL servants and councils "have the power" to help asylum seekers who are suffering poverty, exclusion and degradation in Northern Ireland after "fleeing war and persecution".

Harrowing accounts of the oppressive living conditions in the north - blamed on the British Home Office `hostile environment policy' - were recounted yesterday at the launch of a report calling for action from the north's government bodies.

`A Prison Without Walls' was produced by campaign group Housing 4 All (H4All) and details the everyday struggles facing those seeking sanctuary.

Among the grim findings of those surveyed are that 79 per cent "reported being unable to afford enough food" and 71 per cent of parents are "unable to afford school uniforms for their children".

One in three are living in homes that are "not safe, liveable or secure".

The report identifies key areas where the devolved institutions - even in the absence of an assembly - can alleviate some of the suffering it details.

Speaking to an audience which included politicians and civil servants, Sipho Sibanda of H4All said the group had asked a housing association for the short term use of one of its empty buildings to house vulnerable women.

"We did not win. We were told that if (the organisation) used that property - that's standing vacant - they would have to pay back (the Housing Executive) a lot of money," she said.

Eventually a private property was secured for the women, but "that property is still standing, it's still empty and people are still sleeping outside, people are still couch surfing".

"There are a lot of properties like that out there in Belfast. Give us access into those properties. They can be put to good use."

The report calls for the Department for Communities to provide free school meals outside term-time, when families struggle to feed children and to increase the school uniform allowance.

It also asks Belfast City Council to "confidentially provide free places for children to attend extra-curricular activities and summer clubs".

The report suggests GP practices can help by removing "charges for letters and medical reports for asylum seekers which can cost up to £50".

Asylum seekers are calling on the council to ask the Home office to allow them to work six months after lodging their asylum claim.

Research show around 100 asylum seekers are destitute in Belfast in any given week.

Makhosi Sigabade of H4All said they are trying to "reach as many people as possible" with the report.

"There is a lot of child poverty and a lot of issues around that. If you can imagine a household trying to survive on £37.50 a week - if you can help them you can resolve a lot of issues.

"It is bleak, but we are not deterred by the fact there isn't light yet at the end of the tunnel. We keep pressing on because we need to remember the reason why we started.

"If you give up you are giving up on the lives of hundreds of people."

Aylisha Hogan from event organiser Participation and Practice of Rights (PPR) insisted: "Our devolved institutions have the power to act to protect asylum seekers and they must act now."

"We are talking about people who have literally fled war and persecution. They have come here seeking safety but Home Office policies only seek to cause them further harm."