The UK government plans to reform the asylum system but the British Red Cross charity warns that a two-tier system risks being created that would see anyone arriving via a third country being held in reception centres, potentially for months.
Asylum seekers have to live in dirty and unsafe accommodation for lengthy periods while their claims are processed, according to the latest report on Britain's treatment of migrants.
The British Red Cross tells of accommodation so ramshackle that a roof collapsed and how migrants were forced to wear filthy clothing to keep warm.
The report follows a warning last week from the Refugee Council that asylum seekers face food shortages and racism in UK hotels, with one teenage boy needing hospital treatment because of the poor food provided.
The Red Cross report was based on the accounts of 100 people that the charity supports in asylum accommodation. It found that requests for medical help were ignored and staff searched belongings without permission.
"We are very concerned about the living conditions asylum seekers are facing as they wait months for their applications to be processed," said Mike Adamson, the charity's chief executive.
"We believe that people who have experienced some of the worst horror imaginable - fleeing war, persecution and violence - should be able to expect a safe, clean place of refuge when they arrive in the UK.”
The charity urged the government to work with charities and other bodies to find more housing in communities for new arrivals. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a fair and effective approach to asylum, in line with British values of kindness and compassion,” said Mr Adamson.
The coronavirus pandemic led to a halt in evictions from accommodation for people who had received decisions on asylum claims.
It created a logjam with 64,000 in the system by the end of 2020, compared with the normal level of about 50,000. New arrivals have been sent to re-purposed military barracks and hotels to cover the shortage of suitable accommodation.
The Red Cross called for an immediate end to the use of military barracks as asylum accommodation.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We reject these claims. We always take the wellbeing of all those in the asylum system seriously.
"Our new plan for immigration will reform the broken asylum system. We will welcome people through safe and legal routes, while preventing abuse and reducing the pressures on the system created by parallel illegal routes."
HAJJAN
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
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Company name: Marefa Digital
Based: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre
Number of employees: seven
Sector: e-learning
Funding stage: Pre-seed funding of Dh1.5m in 2017 and an initial seed round of Dh2m in 2019
Investors: Friends and family
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Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
Key facilities
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- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
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Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
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The BIO:
He became the first Emirati to climb Mount Everest in 2011, from the south section in Nepal
He ascended Mount Everest the next year from the more treacherous north Tibetan side
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
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- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
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- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
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- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
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Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
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Bombshell
Director: Jay Roach
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Margot Robbie
Four out of five stars
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Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
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THREE
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative
