Refugee Week; 15-21 June 2015; No one is illegal

It is refugee week here in the UK a week to celebrate the rich contribution refugees bring to the UK and promote a better understanding of why people seek sanctuary, sadly however, we are currently witnessing the worst crisis since World War 11.
 One million refugees  still desperately in need of resettlement, some sanctuary, safe harbour.  Currently there are 4 million Syrian refugees struggling to survive in Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. More than 3 million  refugees in Sub-Sahara Africa and  only a small fraction being offered resettlement. Since 2013, 3,500 people have drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea in  2014, 1,865 so far  this year. People daily dying, due to drowning, starvation or dehydration.
World leaders are condemning millions of refugees to an unbearable existence and thousands to death by failing to provide essential humanitarian protection, because they pursue selfish political interests  instead of showing some human compassion.
Amnesty International have published today a new  briefing today in Beirut, ahead of World Refugee Day on June 20th




The Global Refugee Crisis; a conspiracy of neglect


https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/pol40/1796/2015/en/


Governments across the world have a duty to ensure  people do not die trying to reach safety, after managing to escape, persecution, torture, oppression, poverty, etc. Our own Government has not yet joined the United Nations High Commission for Refugees - a resettlement  programme, but has instead set up its own programme providing minimal assistance. Unlike Germany who have pledged to take 11,000 Syrian refugees as part of a UN initiative. Even much smaller countries with respect, like Sweden and Norway have agreed to take in a significant number,  to Britain's shame.
We must continue to counter the element of  persecution of migrants and refugees, who have been scapegoated for no fault of their own. That has been fuelled  by the rise of the racist UKIP party.
On the 25th  of June European leaders  will have the chance to take decisive action to save lives  and stop smugglers in their tracks  by offering refugees another route to safety.  We must resettle more people  bringing them directly and safely to  European Countries. Please act now and call on the Prime Minister David Cameron to protect refugees in the Mediterranean.


http://act.refugeecouncil.org.uk/lobby/medcrisis


It is  essential that we offer a safe have for desperate refugees, offering them protection and dignity, lets steer away from the mindset of Fortress Europe. To be welcomed and  accepted , to be treated with respect, no one is illegal, no one should be caged, imprisoned, quarantined, denied access, abused and vilified for simply seeking freedom. In  these uncertain times, we must offer them hope, and a means of survival.We must end the detentions and deportations. Let us stand together against racism and for international  solidarity with migrants and refugees the world over.
No one is lllegal, we are all human.