Each Friday, we bring you a roundup of how our work is having an impact on both local communities and the national conversation. Read on to find out more…
A Place to Call Home
Refugee Council client Ruba was featured in the Evening Standard’s Winter Appeal. You may have read Ruba’s story on our blog. He spoke about being at risk of homelessness, his feelings of depression and the challenges of the asylum system in Britain, especially as a blind man.
The Refugee Council supported him in a variety of ways, from food vouchers to helping him find a solicitor.
Ruba found himself at risk of homelessness
Syria
Our CEO, Enver Solomon was featured on ITV news (at 1:42). He spoke about the Government’s decision to suspend asylum claims for people from Syria, saying “we think this pause is premature, shortsighted and the government has moved too quickly.”
He was also quoted in the Guardian and the World Today News on the same issue, saying:
“We know too well the long-term harm of leaving men, women and children in chronic asylum limbo, unable to move on with their lives while they wait for news of their fate.”
Esther Baleh, a Syrian client of the Refugee Council, spoke to CNN about the fall of Bashar al-Assad. She is a fashion designer in London who fled Syria with her family in 2014. She said: “It’s something that I never even thought of happening…I felt like my identity had been rebuilt.” You can read more about Esther’s story on our blog here.
