CASE STUDY - Refugees From Afghanistan

Question 1

What is an asylum seeker?

Answer 1

A person who has left their home country as a political refugee and is seeking asylum in another.

Question 2

What was the total amount of asylum applications in the UK in 2010? How many were granted refugee status? How many that arrived in the UK were from Afghanistan?

Answer 2

Total number: 17,790

Number granted asylum: 3,480

Afghans: 1,605

Question 3

Many refugees fled to neighbouring Pakistan and Iran. Where did the people attempting to get to the UK end up? What is that?

Answer 3

They ended up in ‘The Jungle’: an illegal, makeshoft campsite in Calais, Northern France. It compromises of tents and temporary shelters on unsanitary wasteland.

Question 4

Just some gd facts

Answer 4

• In 2009, Afghanistan was constantly in the news due to so many British soldiers being killed or injured there
• In August 2009, 700-800 refugees in ‘The Jungle’ waited to be smuggled into the UK via the channel tunnel or hiding in lorries
• In 2009 Afghanistan had a population of almost 28 million. 3 million refugees worldwide are of Afghanistan descent

Question 5

What were the push/pull factors? (you can sort these into social and economic)

Answer 5

Push:

• War + conflict
• Drought
• Disease
• Malnutrition
• Poverty
• Corrupted governement

Pull:

• Safe from war
• Safe from natural disaster
• Free education
• Free healthcare (NHS)
• Job opportunities

Question 6

What were some impacts?

Answer 6

• Many refugees ended up in ‘The Jungle’ when they tried to get to the UK
• When refugees settle into the UK, there can be issues with language barriers, getting access to services, finding a job and unnecessary racists stirring shit up (racial tension)
• Refugees can bring in skils + knowledge that can benefit the local people and country
• Refugees who work pay tax and contribute to the economy
• More idiotic far-right movements form