Refugee Council gives evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee
Chief Executive Donna Covey gave evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on the draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill.
Watch the Committee hear from Donna Covey on the Parliament website (streaming video)
Read our Poliblog on the Bill and how the day went
People seeking asylum need access to the NHS, says British Medical Association
The British Medical Association (BMA) have submitted evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee, which is reviewing the draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill, warning that restricting access to primary health care for people who have had their asylum claims refused could create a large impact on public health.
It also warned that in the long run restricting access would prove uneconomical as more treatment would be needed if diseases were allowed to progress.
Telegraph: Doctors warn of risks of restricting NHS treatment for failed asylum seekers
Health Service Journal: Give asylum seekers access to NHS care, BMA urges
Foreign Office report points towards tough asylum system
The Independent reported that almost 80,000 people from countries described in the most recent Foreign Office human rights report as “major countries of concern” have been refused asylum in Britain in the last five years.
Donna Covey, the Refugee Council’s Chief Executive, said: “These figures show just how tough our asylum system is. People claiming asylum struggle to get a fair hearing, despite coming from countries where human rights abuse is well-documented.”
The Independent: Britain closes door on 80,000 asylum seekers
Refugees found dead on Yemen beach
Medicins Sans Frontieres reported that the bodies of 60 refugees from Somalia and Ethiopia were found on a beach in Yemen, after being forced overboard by smugglers who feared capture.
Reuters: Sixty African refugees found dead on Yemen beach
Associated Press: Bodies of 60 migrants wash up on Yemen's shores
13 year old girl stoned to death in Somalia
A 13 year old was stoned to death for adultery after reporting she had been raped to the militia who control the town of Kismayo in southern Somalia.
This is one of many human rights abuses which have sprung out of the conflict between Islamist militias, government forces and warlords taking place in Somalia.
The Independent: Don’t kill me, she screamed. Then they stoned her to death.
BBC News: Somali woman executed by stoning
The Guardian: Somalian rape victim, 13, stoned to death
Housing charities express concern over draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill
Housing groups including Shelter and the Housing Association’s Charitable Trust, have written a letter to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, warning that the current housing and welfare proposals in the draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill will worsen homelessness and destitution amongst refugees and other migrant groups and restrict integration with communities.
Housingnews.co.uk: Homelessness concern over Immigration and Citizenship Bill
Academic expert witnesses fear denigration at tribunals
Academics who work as expert witnesses at immigration tribunals feel their integrity and credentials are routinely attacked by Home Office representatives in court, a Times Higher Education article reports.
Times Higher Education: Tribunal experts fear attacks on integrity
New campaign group established to fight planned detention centre
The Coalition Against Bullingdon Immigration Centre has been launched to fight plans for a new detention centre in Oxfordshire.
Campaigner Rebecca Mitchell-Farmer said that the centre was not the right way to house people seeking asylum: “We don’t want to see them locked up, we want to see them contributing and active in our community.”
BBC News: Campaigners fight asylum centre
Removal of Afghan refugees from Calais to be jointly funded by Britain and France
Afghan refugees in Calais will be removed on flights jointly funded by the British and French governments.
Sylvie Copyans, from the French charity Salam, said:”Many of the Afghan refugees sleeping rough here fought against the Taliban. They face huge dangers if they go back, especially since the Taliban are becoming more powerful again.”
Daily Express: Afghans will be sent home in handcuffs
Indymedia: Afghans in Calais to be mass deported on Anglo/French charter flights
Research suggests inadequate help for disabled refugees in London
Research published by the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees (ICAR) at City University London and Refugee Support/Metropolitan Support Trust suggests that refugees and asylum seekers have difficulties accessing support from mainstream disability organisations such as local social services.
Medical News Today: Insufficient Support For London's Disabled Asylum Seekers
ECRE launches new website
The European Council on Refugees and Exiles has launched a new website.
Visit the new ECRE website
