Syria

[pinkpolkadot]

I have read from multiple sources that they all had lifejackets on but that they were fake

https://www.npr.org/sections/parall...syrian-refugee-breaks-hearts-around-the-world

When I saw Cameron the other day refusing to take more refugees I felt deeply ashamed to be British. I am pleased to see that public pressure has forced him to apparently change his tune to some extent.

God the photo of the poor boy was heartbreaking!!

However, in my honest opinion we need to be taking better care of these people in their OWN countries instead of them risking their lives crossing seas. The UK sends more aid to Syria than the whole of the rnest of Europe put together and I read Cameron is sending a further 52million to Syria. I say the UK is doing their fair bit?

The refugees legally should claim asylum in the first European country they enter ie Hungary. They then get processed and its decided whether refugee status is legitimate or not. No one wants to go through processing in Hungary as the Hungarian government hold a hard line and if they are found not to be legitimate refugees (ie at risk) they get shipped back to the country they came from. The UK and Germany basically do not deport anyone. Yes we are a soft touch and they know that.

Why when I watch the TV do I see hundreds of young men? Young men with enough money to pay to 2k fee to board a dingy to Turkey. These are the rich Syrians and I hate to say it but the poor ones are still in the war zone, hence why we need to look after these people better in their own countries.

If the boarders were opened, what then - we all live happily ever after?

I think we're doing far from our fair bit and we are not doing enough to support the bordering countries. We can't possibly expect them to stay in Syria! The number of refugees inTurkey is expected to rise to 1.9M in 2015, way more than their 'fair share' I'm sure everyone would agree.

Only 217,000 are housed in camps where they receive basic supplies, the remainder are left to fend for themselves and the majority are given nothing. Classed as 'guests' rather than 'refugees' due to a loophole in the system, they are not afforded any legal protection and often work for a pittance. Often children have to go out to work too just so that a family can survive. Is it any wonder they are jumping on boats?

The need to provide basic food and shelter means that families resort to desperate measures to try and make ends meet - even putting their children to work.

Ten-year old “Ibrahim” and his family fled Aleppo two years ago and moved to the Turkish border town of Kilis, where they live in a cement bunker. To survive, father and son collect plastic from garbage bins, earning 1 TL (50 cents) for each ½ kg of plastic. Young Ibrahim told Amnesty International that he wakes up each day at 6 am and finishes work at around 4 pm.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/n...estitution-aggravating-plight-syria-refugees/

Cameron has now suggested (under duress) taking refugees directly from camps which seems sensible and will not further encourage the dangerous journeys some are making or be selective in only taking those who can afford to make the journey.

Obviously, there needs to be a long term solution but this crisis is happening now and people need immediate help. We need a long term AND a short term solution.

 

[No1showgirl]

I have read from multiple sources that they all had lifejackets on but that they were fake

https://www.npr.org/sections/parall...syrian-refugee-breaks-hearts-around-the-world

When I saw Cameron the other day refusing to take more refugees I felt deeply ashamed to be British. I am pleased to see that public pressure has forced him to apparently change his tune to some extent.

God the photo of the poor boy was heartbreaking!!

However, in my honest opinion we need to be taking better care of these people in their OWN countries instead of them risking their lives crossing seas. The UK sends more aid to Syria than the whole of the rnest of Europe put together and I read Cameron is sending a further 52million to Syria. I say the UK is doing their fair bit?

The refugees legally should claim asylum in the first European country they enter ie Hungary. They then get processed and its decided whether refugee status is legitimate or not. No one wants to go through processing in Hungary as the Hungarian government hold a hard line and if they are found not to be legitimate refugees (ie at risk) they get shipped back to the country they came from. The UK and Germany basically do not deport anyone. Yes we are a soft touch and they know that.

Why when I watch the TV do I see hundreds of young men? Young men with enough money to pay to 2k fee to board a dingy to Turkey. These are the rich Syrians and I hate to say it but the poor ones are still in the war zone, hence why we need to look after these people better in their own countries.

If the boarders were opened, what then - we all live happily ever after?

I think we're doing far from our fair bit and we are not doing enough to support the bordering countries. We can't possibly expect them to stay in Syria! The number of refugees inTurkey is expected to rise to 1.9M in 2015, way more than their 'fair share' I'm sure everyone would agree.

Only 217,000 are housed in camps where they receive basic supplies, the remainder are left to fend for themselves and the majority are given nothing. Classed as 'guests' rather than 'refugees' due to a loophole in the system, they are not afforded any legal protection and often work for a pittance. Often children have to go out to work too just so that a family can survive. Is it any wonder they are jumping on boats?

The need to provide basic food and shelter means that families resort to desperate measures to try and make ends meet - even putting their children to work.

Ten-year old “Ibrahim” and his family fled Aleppo two years ago and moved to the Turkish border town of Kilis, where they live in a cement bunker. To survive, father and son collect plastic from garbage bins, earning 1 TL (50 cents) for each ½ kg of plastic. Young Ibrahim told Amnesty International that he wakes up each day at 6 am and finishes work at around 4 pm.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/n...estitution-aggravating-plight-syria-refugees/

Cameron has now suggested (under duress) taking refugees directly from camps which seems sensible and will not further encourage the dangerous journeys some are making or be selective in only taking those who can afford to make the journey.

Obviously, there needs to be a long term solution but this crisis is happening now and people need immediate help. We need a long term AND a short term solution.

As far as I am aware, Turkey is not in Europe. Turkey is the passage people take to enter European countries. The 1.9m people do not plan to settle in Turkey - they will eventually end up in Europe. That's fine as long as its legitimate. 1.9m is only the tip of the iceberg - before we know it, the only option will be to house these people in our own homes with our own families.

Does anyone feel so infused to help that they would happily open up their own homes to refugee families and support them? Now that's an interesting question...

 

[Miss Vintage]

Yes, I would. You might not believe me, but I really would, as a short term solution. Of course the ideal is to stabilise these countries so that the people are not forced to flee, but it has already happened for those in the camps and elsewhere, and we have a duty to help them. Short and long term solutions are needed, why does it have to be one or the other?

As icklemonster said, I do not ever want to see again the image of a child's lifeless body washed up on a beach like so much rubbish.

I'm not sure what you mean by a very different Europe in 20 years? I would happily welcome a more culturally diverse Europe if it means no more people dying like that poor boy. I would welcome it any how, this is how countries evolve.

 

[marina294]

Yes a short term solution but the isis regime has been going for a while now no one has yet been able to stabilise the country. And not being dramatic if they cant stabilise it could ultimately lead to war meaning a short term solution would become longterm finding these people places to live all over Europe

 

[marina294]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wake-up-migrant-crisis-here-6381894 this is quite an interesting article.

 

[No1showgirl]

Yes, I would. You might not believe me, but I really would, as a short term solution. Of course the ideal is to stabilise these countries so that the people are not forced to flee, but it has already happened for those in the camps and elsewhere, and we have a duty to help them. Short and long term solutions are needed, why does it have to be one or the other?

As icklemonster said, I do not ever want to see again the image of a child's lifeless body washed up on a beach like so much rubbish.

I'm not sure what you mean by a very different Europe in 20 years? I would happily welcome a more culturally diverse Europe if it means no more people dying like that poor boy. I would welcome it any how, this is how countries evolve.

Yes more culturally diverse, over populated, true Europeans being a monitory. Our childrens children further struggling with housing, no NHS as that would have collapsed, no state pension for people who have worked as the money will have gone. No jobs. We simply cannot support a hugh influx of people and they will not go back to their home lands.

As I have said, I don't have a problem with it, we just need to be prepared and accept it when it happens...without complaint. However, I don't think that's going to be the case when it starts affecting us on a personal basis.

BTW I am sad not just for the 3 year old who was washed up on the beach, I am sad for everyone who has died. Lets help everyone but lets do it properly. I think Cameron has the right ideas taking refugees direct from Syria, anything else would be sending out the wrong message.

 

[catty]

I feel like the war is not coming it has already began.

 

[pinkpolkadot]

I don't think it matters whether we are talking about Turkey or Hungary, if we expect one or two countries to take the hit (even just temporarily) they are not going to be able to cope and this will further encourage refugees to take dangerous risks.

With regards to your question, yes I would and believe it or not thousands of others would too...

'More than 11000 Icelanders offer their homes to refugees' https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...efugees-to-help-european-crisis-10480505.html

But I don't feel this is even necessary. If every local council/borough took just 10 refugee families we could help 10,000 people.

Remember too, this is a short term solution, ideally to be run alongside longer term efforts to secure peace in Syria so people don't have to leave and some may want to return home.

I think too that your fears over funding refugees are largely unfounded. You are assuming they will all come here, never work and rely completely on the welfare state which is simply not the case. They will need support to begin with as they are likely to arrive with nothing but they are likely to become valuable members of society. My best friend at school was an Iraqi asylum seeker, she still lives here and is a Dr contributing a large amount of tax, not to mention the amazing work she does.

 

[icklemonster]

Reading this thread I wonder if people realise how societies and populations grow and develop. Firstly we are not full. The more people who come here, the more of those people need goods, services, so more jobs are made, many refugees will be skilled workers, so more taxes are paid, more money would be available from said taxes for the NHS and benefits. We are not full, things will not collapse if we help the desperate. Please stop reading the daily mail and UKIP propaganda.There are currently 635,000 empty properties in the UK. I'm not saying we need to take everyone for 20 years, but we need to take an even split with the rest of the western countries until a resolution is made and these peoples lives are safe.

ETA - on the point of opening our doors, the British people did exactly this in the 2nd world war with all the child evacuees. My Great Grandma & Grandad took in 2 to live with their own 3 children.

 

[Tasha]

i never said they are doing it for benefits but there isnt enough jobs for them all and if they do come here they will get our benefits, period. we are all too busy slagging each other off for been on benefits as it is, calling each other scroungers yet people want to let other people come receive them, like i said i wont say much bcos my views are different, i just think we should clean up our own messes before focusing on other peoples.

They will get our benefits? You know refugees get £36 a week here, right? Come to England and live it up on that, I think not. Myself, husband and four children are currently classed as homeless in that we are currently are of no fixed abode. It's beyond crap but I know that they aren't in danger of being killed, they aren't being marched to war against their will, nor are they being raped or sold. And there isn't a choice between the sea being safer than the land. If push came to shove and even though it would break my heart my children could go into the care system and they have that house, safety. None of that is possible for the children who are fleeing with their parents. The situation of children in the UK is not comparable at all.

 

[Tasha]

On a separate note the detention centres are horrific. We lived by the largest in Europe and no one would choose to live there, live in fear of being sent back to a worn torn country for an unspecified amount of time, all the while being treated like a criminal. But when the choice is these detention centres or what they left behind...

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

We have loads of space!

 

[Shezza84uk]

I usually keep my opinions to myself but reading some of these comments shows how illinformed so many are.

Benefits and the dole is the least on these peoples mind. It's about safety and a reasonable quality of life, in world war residents of this country had to make the decision to evacuate, stay or put their children on trains etc to a place of safety.

I would also like to point out that if the first world countries didn't interfere with these places lots of these things wouldn't have happened. Not so long ago they were arming the Syrian Rebels these Rebels became IS using the weapons given to gain power, this is the domino effect of the poor decisions by the powers that be.

People who claim asylum here get very little support and often are made to go through the mills to be given right to work, the can't claim benefits they get moved from pillar to post until they are given the right to earn and survive. This is not about benefits it's about safety and the basic human right to live and be free from torture.

No human being would like to see their wives/husband and daughters/son getting raped or killed for refusing to conform, no human wants to see their loved ones die or tortured.

It's times like this we as a human race find it within ourselves to have some compassion, it's not easy placing yourselves into someone else's shoes but it's difficult to ignore.

 

[lau86]

Someone asked the question would I be happy to have them come and live with me? As a short term solution I would be happy to and I'm sure lots of others would too

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Yes, people forget we are all humans. Maybe we need to share a bit and sort this mess.

 

[lau86]

I think since I've had my own children I've felt it much more. Seeing their little faces asleep cosy in their beds then imagining those poor children with no safety never mind all the conveniences our own children have.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

Yeah ^ I feel like that. Walked around the sea wall tonight. My daughter free to run ahead and play,people saying 'good evening',eating a ice cream.
Safe. This really can change in the blink of an eye. Don't all children deserve this.

 

[maryp0ppins]

i never said they are doing it for benefits but there isnt enough jobs for them all and if they do come here they will get our benefits, period. we are all too busy slagging each other off for been on benefits as it is, calling each other scroungers yet people want to let other people come receive them, like i said i wont say much bcos my views are different, i just think we should clean up our own messes before focusing on other peoples.

Sorry but this is absolute rubbish in regards to them "getting our benefits period" I am an immigrant to the UK and you can not simply come here and claim benefits, get housed immediately etc.
Until I became a permanent resident here I had huge stamps in my passport that said I was not entitled to any public funds.

 

[catty]

https://theburningbloggerofbedlam.w...-crisis-simplified-for-idiots-and-xenophobes/

this link is quite good.

 

[Boomerslady]

I have to be honest and admit I used to have the idea that 'we can't afford it' and there's no space etc etc. however as this has reached crisis point, and seeing the pictures we've seen this week my heart is breaking. These people have done nothing to deserve this, if I was in thier position frankly I'd have given up. But they are fighting for thier lives and more importantly thier children's lives.

I've been watching the footage of them arriving into Germany and I'm sobbing my heart out. I just pray that those coming to the UK get such a lovely welcome. Yes other countries in the Middle East should be helping, but they aren't, and something has to be done.

Again being brutally honest as a PP said it does concern me that it may change Europe...however I imagine the majority of these people will happily confirm to the Europe ways of life. My only concern is extremism but that's also home grown I'm aware of that. I think as long as we aren't too PC about things and maintain our Britishness so to speak then what's to worry about. They will contribute just as we do and perhaps change Europe for the better.