Meeting the health needs of refugees and asylum seekers

The experiences of refugees and asylum seekers

Numbers of asylum seekers from each country fluctuate, principally according to the local human rights situation. Current numbers of asylum seekers, refugees and Internally Displaced Persons globally are found on the UN Refugee Agency website (UNHCR)

The vast majority of global refugees are hosted by developing regions, most of which have scarce resources to provide for their needs.

Only those with access to significant resources travel to industrialised countries. Some have been detained and tortured in their own countries, and exposure to violence is widespread. Some people have been persecuted because of their political or religious beliefs and activities, others because they belong to a minority ethnic group, or due to their gender or sexual orientation. Some have had to leave because of an environmental disaster or an infrastructure project. Some people migrate due to poverty as disparities between rich and poor, both between and within countries, continue to widen.

Those leaving their country to seek asylum experience many losses. As well as losing family members, through death or separation, they lose their home, family, friends, money, job and identity, and may lose dignity and hope. It is the multiple losses and, most importantly, the loss of their role; status and usual support network that may make it difficult for people to cope.

Most of those seeking asylum in the UK are single men under the age of 40, although worldwide most refugees are women. Many families in the UK are without one parent, who may be missing or dead, and there are a significant number of unaccompanied children.

In order to fulfil the terms of the Geneva Convention an asylum seeker must demonstrate that (s)he is personally at risk of persecution were (s)he to be returned to his/her country of origin. This is not always easy to prove.

Those making the often arduous and dangerous journey to exile are courageous, resourceful and resilient, and these qualities can assist them to rebuild their lives. After the initial relief of arriving, frustration and disillusionment may ensue, as the reality of life becomes apparent. It is important to enable people to develop independence, acquire language, and have access to education and employment. Integration requires support from the local community.

The Linking with local communities and befriending area of this resource has more information on this.

The Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR) collates up-to-date and accurate information and detailed analysis on UK asylum statistics including a statistics paper
Key Statistics about asylum seeker arrivals in the UK

What brings asylum seekers to the United Kingdom? Burnett A and Peel M: BMJ 2001; 322:485-8 discusses the reasons that cause people to go into exile and the situation in which they find themselves in the UK.

Asylum Seekers and Refugees resource pack (2008) published by Health Scotland aims to provide useful information for frontline staff such as health visitors, practice nurses and general practitioners:

• to develop cultural competence in the services they provide.
• to enable each health professional to broaden their knowledge base in relation to asylum issues.
• to give guidance to health professionals on useful resources and where to access further information.

For a description of UK asylum statistics within a global context see the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR).

The Home Office UK Border Agency website explains:

• who can be given asylum in the UK
• how asylum applications are processed
• what asylum applicants can expect whilst awaiting a decision
• what happens after a decision is made

HAT News, The UK Border Agency and Department of Health are not responsible for the content of external internet sites.