Monthly Archive for September, 2008

Key Contacts

Bryson One Stop Service for Asylum Seekers
A 24-hour advice and support service for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Contact: Bryson One Stop Service, 9 Lower Crescent, Belfast, BT7 1NR
Tel: (028) 9043 9226
Emergency out of hours number for claimants in need of assistance: (028) 9024 2025

The Refugee Action Group Immigration Detention Helpline
A free and confidential helpline available out-of-hours for anyone who is stopped and detained by Immigration Officers in Northern Ireland. A trained volunteer will notify the detainee’s family where possible and contact an Immigration Adviser who may be able to assist the detainee in challenging his/her detention. Tel: 0800 840 0495

Northern Ireland Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (NICRAS)
This community group for refugees and people seeking asylum aims to support the integration process while consciousness raising, campaigning and informing people about the legal situation. The group also organise social and fundraising events.
Contact: NICRAS, 143A University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HP
Tel: 028 9024 6699
Email:  nicras@hotmail.co.uk

Demographics

In June 2009 a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) report stated that 42 million people were uprooted from their homes throughout the world at that time, due to conflict and persecution, of which 16 million were refugees, or seeking asylum and 26 million people were internally displaced in their own countries. New countries of particular concern were Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Somalia, with long-term problems originating from countries such as Columbia, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia. By the end of 2009 there were 43.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, the highest number since the mid 1990s. Continue reading ‘Demographics’

Applications for asylum in N. Ireland

Of the people who seek sanctuary in the UK, only a tiny number apply in Northern Ireland and this can make them particularly isolated and vulnerable, especially as some will have few people from their own ethnic and cultural backgrounds to help them through the experience. Applications are lodged with the Home Office and there are no separate officially published figures for those who apply in Northern Ireland. It is possible, however, to get some idea of the numbers from the applications for subsistence and accommodation here, although there may also be a small number of people who are able to look after themselves financially. Continue reading ‘Applications for asylum in N. Ireland’

About

EMBRACE is a group of Christians working together to promote a positive response to people seeking asylum, refugees, migrant workers and minority ethnic people in Northern Ireland.

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