“It's Like Fighting for Survival”: How Rejected Black African Asylum Seekers Experience Living Conditions in an Eastern German State

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Scott
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
German State ◽  
Black African

scholarly journals Black African asylum seekers’ experiences of health care access in an eastern German state

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Scott
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Health Care Access ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
German State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Black African ◽  
Care Access

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how access to health care for (rejected) asylum seekers in an eastern German state is structured and experienced and to consider the implications for their human rights. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on 12 in-depth interviews with rejected black African asylum seekers and also draws on ethnographic research undertaken at a grassroots refugee organisation and asylum homes. The analysis of the interview data are framed by theorisations of “everyday practices” as “tactics” of resistance to an imposed order. Findings – Accomplishing health care access involved a range of structural barriers and humiliating interactions with administrative and health care staff, which had adverse consequences for their health status and were injurious to their human rights and dignity. The study participants used a range of oppositional and discursive tactics in an effort to secure certain (health) outcomes, mediate social relations and resist their domination as asylum seekers. Research limitations/implications – Further research should focus on the cumulative micro-level effects of asylum policies on health care access and how they create health inequities and violate asylum seekers’ rights and dignity. Practical implications – Policy priorities should include the provision of human rights education as well as training and support for administrative and health staff. Originality/value – There is limited qualitative research on the health care experiences of asylum seekers in Germany. This paper makes policy recommendations and identifies areas for further research and human rights advocacy.

No One Left Behind?

2021 ◽  
pp. 270-289
Author(s):  
Athanassios Vozikis ◽  
Theodoros Fouskas ◽  
Symeon Sidiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
Epidemiological Profile ◽  
The Impact

Asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, who are living in RICs, are faced with multiple challenges and vulnerabilities that must be taken into consideration when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic concerns over increasing cases recorded in the RICs in Greece. The impact of migration on public health is of particular concern to Greek migration policy, as migrants in the country have a completely different epidemiological profile and higher risks to public health due to the poor living conditions in their countries of origin and during their stay. They live mostly in overcrowded reception and identification centers and accommodation centers under deplorable conditions, lack of proper shelter, extremely unhygienic living conditions. The urgent decongestion of the overcrowded RICs and accommodation centers is required to avoid the risk of rapid spread of the infection.

scholarly journals The Impact of Refugee Camps on the Process of Migration Towards Europe: An Assessment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sebastian Paul
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Social Systems ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Refugee Camps ◽  
Migration Studies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mass Migration ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees ◽  
The Eu

In recent years, migration studies focused very much on forced displacement, especially after the influx of migrants to Europe in 2015. Some European countries accept immigrants from non-EU regions. Others blame migrants for taking advantage of Europe’s social systems and follow restrictive policy measures. The EU is as divided as never before in its history, and the process of migration to Europe has become more critical. In this context, the characteristics, fleeing reasons, and refugees’ and asylum seekers’ journeys are relevant. This dissertation looks at these factors in the framework of refugee camps. Even though refugee camps are frequently an essential part of the journey of asylum seekers and refugees on their way to Europe, there is only limited literature in this field. Thus, the research aims to analyze migration and refugee movements as a consequence of the miserable and inhumane conditions in refugee camps and identifies indicators for (mass) migration to Europe. For this purpose, and since everyone speaks about migrants, but not with migrants, I conducted quantitative and qualitative research in 192 fully-structured and 17 semi-structured interviews. The research provides a comprehensive comparison of the living conditions in non-EU and EU refugee camps, analyses their role in the process of migration to Europe, and emphasizes the differences between different camps. Furthermore, the characteristics of asylum seekers and refugees and their motives for coming to Europe were examined. The findings of the study show who these people are and from where they originate. There is evidence for the hypothesis that the majority of people flee because of severe danger (e.g., armed conflicts) and are not ‘economic migrants’ despite the claims of nationalistic governments in the EU. However, there is evidence for the hypothesis that improved living conditions in camps could reduce mass migration movements to Europe. The dissertation enhances the discussion of refugee camps in migration studies, provides new perspectives and insights about the journey of asylum seekers and refugees to Europe, and people’s characteristics leaving their country of origin.

scholarly journals ‘A Cross Sectional Survey of Sociodemographic Characteristics, Primary Care Health Needs and Living Conditions of Asylum-Seekers Living in a Greek Reception Centre.’

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Clare Talitha Gordon ◽  
Conor T O-Brien ◽  
Julie Balen ◽  
Stephanie Duncombe ◽  
Albane Girma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Skin Disease ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Conflict Zones ◽  
Reception Centre ◽  
Greek Island

Abstract BackgroundIn 2019, a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos designed for 650 people was home to over 5500. Migration rates from conflict zones remain high. We aimed to quantitatively describe demographics, living conditions and health needs in the reception centre community of Samos, Greece.MethodsA questionnaire was designed with reference to international humanitarian standards for reception centre following a consultative process with representatives of the asylum-seeker population. Domains assessed included demographics; living conditions; safety/vulnerability; and health. The questionnaire was piloted and then following feedback from participants, conducted in June 2019 on a sample of 500 asylum seekers attending Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) centres supporting the Samos reception centre. Results500 participants: 60.6% male, 35.0% female and 4.4% did not report gender. 79.4% lived in tents. Respondents were predominantly from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Respondents reported a total of 570 children in their care. 20.6% of women were pregnant. 35.4% had experienced physical violence; 7.8% reported Sexual/ Gender-based violence (SGBV). 83% reported psychological distress, 71% skin disease, 66% diarrhoea and vomiting and 64% respiratory disease. Accommodation, sanitation, and nutrition fell below internationally recognised standards, and poor access to water was significantly associated (p < 0.001) with respiratory disease, diarrhoea and vomiting, skin disease and psychological distress. ConclusionLiving conditions in the over-burdened Samos camp fall far below accepted basic humanitarian standards and are associated with overall poor health status in the camp population. Further research is imperative to analyse and monitor the diverse, varying needs of asylum-seekers in the Greek island hotspots and inform policies to improve conditions.

No One Left Behind?

2021 ◽  
pp. 789-808
Author(s):  
Athanassios Vozikis ◽  
Theodoros Fouskas ◽  
Symeon Sidiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Multiple Challenges ◽  
Epidemiological Profile ◽  
The Impact

Asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants, who are living in RICs, are faced with multiple challenges and vulnerabilities that must be taken into consideration when responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic concerns over increasing cases recorded in the RICs in Greece. The impact of migration on public health is of particular concern to Greek migration policy, as migrants in the country have a completely different epidemiological profile and higher risks to public health due to the poor living conditions in their countries of origin and during their stay. They live mostly in overcrowded reception and identification centers and accommodation centers under deplorable conditions, lack of proper shelter, extremely unhygienic living conditions. The urgent decongestion of the overcrowded RICs and accommodation centers is required to avoid the risk of rapid spread of the infection.

scholarly journals A cross-sectional survey of sociodemographic characteristics, primary care health needs and living conditions of asylum-seekers living in a Greek reception centre

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Gordon ◽  
Conor O-Brien ◽  
Julie Balen ◽  
Stephanie L. Duncombe ◽  
Albane Girma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Skin Disease ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Poor Access

Abstract Background In 2019, a migrant camp on the Greek island of Samos designed for 650 people was home to a growing population of over 5500. We aimed to quantitatively describe living conditions and health needs in the camp. Methods A questionnaire was designed with reference to international humanitarian standards, following a consultative process with the asylum-seeker population. Domains assessed included demographics, living conditions, safety/vulnerability, and health. The questionnaire was piloted and then conducted in June 2019 on a sample of asylum seekers. Results Five hundred participants, predominantly from Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Of these, 79.4% lived in tents. Respondents cared for a total of 570 children; 20.6% of women were pregnant, 35.4% had experienced violence, 83% psychological distress, 71% skin disease, 66% diarrhoea and vomiting, and 64% respiratory disease. Accommodation, sanitation, and nutrition fell below internationally recognised standards, and poor access to water was significantly associated (p < 0.001) with respiratory disease, diarrhoea and vomiting, skin disease ,and psychological distress. Conclusions Living conditions in the Samos camp fall below basic humanitarian standards and are associated with poor health status. Further research is imperative to analyse and monitor the diverse, varying needs of asylum-seekers and inform policies to improve conditions.

The Nexus of Asylum Seeker Migrations and Asylum Policy: Longitudinal Analysis of Migration Trends in Norway

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marko Valenta
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Analysis ◽  
Asylum Seeker ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Social Rights ◽  
Asylum Policy ◽  
Minimum Standards ◽  
Migration Control

There has been much focus on the increased influx of asylum seekers in Norway and in Europe in general. This article investigates links between the influx of asylum seekers and developments in asylum policies in Norway. In focus are the immigration trends of the four largest groups of asylum seekers in Norway in the period 2006–2012. It is assumed that developments in the arrival of asylum seekers are to a large extent influenced by the ways in which the four groups were treated by migration authorities in Norway. This analysis is based on policy survey and available statistics. The longitudinal analysis indicates that changes in rejection, approval and deportation rates correspond to a large extent with subsequent fluctuations in annual arrivals of asylum seekers. It is also maintained that the restrictions in social rights result in deteriorating living conditions, but as a tool of migration control such restrictions do not work in accordance with the intention. The findings are of clear relevance for on-going discussions on asylum seeker mobility and discussions on minimum standards for reception of asylum seekers.

Italy’s Health Divide

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 507-518
Author(s):  
Sebastian Carlotti
Keyword(s):  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Living Conditions ◽  
Migration Policies ◽  
Migrant Communities ◽  
Italian Government ◽  
Sanitary Conditions

Restrictive migration policies often have a major impact on migrants’ access to healthcare services and their capacity to protect their health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, securitised migration policies in Italy led to a severe health divide that exacerbated the already acute living conditions of many migrant communities. This article examines Italy’s migration policy with a focus on the Security Decree and its consequences during the COVID-19 state-wide lockdown. Over the last decade, the surge in support for anti-immigration parties has fostered the portrayal of migrants as dangerous vectors of disease. In 2018, the Italian government approved the Security Decree which curtailed the already poor medical and sanitary conditions of the state’s healthcare services provided to migrants and asylum seekers. This study outlines the characteristics of the Italian health divide during the COVID-19 outbreak and suggests a link between securitised migration policies and increased vulnerability of migrant communities during the pandemic.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document