Summary Of Refugees And Asylum Seekers By David Dalton

Since the dawn of human evolution, humans have migrated across continents in search of food, shelter, safety, and hospitable weather. “Refugees & Asylum Seekers” by Dave Dalton, explores the causes and effects of people migration and the issues surrounding it. This book presents the facts but allows the readers to debate their views and form their own opinions. It includes case studies of historical and present-day examples that highlight important migrations, it features ‘consider this’ boxes to encourage thinking around connected issues such as human rights, racism and integration, and it uses primary source materials (maps, statistics, and timelines support the text) to help bring the issues to life.
One central idea of “Refugees & Asylum

Seekers” by Dave Dalton is that life as a refugee is extremely tough. Every year, millions of people around the world are forced to flee their homes. Some flee because of religious persecution, others because of their race, gender, or ethnicity. Some flee because of their political stances, religious affiliations or social status.
Refugees face a long and difficult journey finding security and protection. Clemente Chico, a displaced was forced to leave his home in Ungundu in Angola, Africa because of the civil war between the government and a rebel army, in 2000 he was living in Ungundu Camp, Kuito. On page 4, Clemente tells us: “…I brought a tool for cutting wood. I carried loads for other people to earn money to pay for food. When I was carrying loads, the eleven-year-old had to carry the four-year-old.” Furthermore, Amuh, a member of the Karen people from Myanmar (also known as Burma) fled from her home and lives in a refugee camp in Thailand. The Karen people are fighting for independence from Myanmar. On page 5, Amuh states “I lived with my family in a village called Kawmura in Burma. In April 1984 the government forces came and fired shells into the village. We had to flee. My husband was away, he was a fighter with the independent forces. I had two young children, the youngest was six month s old. I carried the baby on my back, and the toddler walked…The village leader arranged with the Thai authorities for us to move to this camp. We get a food ration from a charity. People earn money by working for farmers. Now I earn a living by weaving.” Pursuing this further, Isa Bakthari is an asylum seeker from Afghanistan. He was interviewed in the UK in 2000, when he said “The fighting has been going on in my country for years. When I was fourteen a bomb blew up close to me and threw me into the air. My arm and leg were broken. Then a bomb killed my father, mother and little sister. I came home from school and saw what happened. I can’t go back to Afghanistan. Please, there is fighting, fighting all the time.” We know about the difficulties and sufferings of refugees because we can talk to the survivors, who escaped. However, many of the survivors left behind friends and family who did not escape.
A battlefield is a dangerous place for soldiers. It is even more dangerous for civilians. Although wars are fought between armies in uniforms, civilians cannot get out of the way, particularly if the fighting is in a city. Modern weapons, such as missiles, may hurt nearby civilians, even if they are aimed at military targets. Consequently, villages, towns and fields of crops become battlefields. Homeless, hungry, frightened people flee for safety. Everything collapses: transportation, water and food supplies, healthcare, and law and order. People may escape to safety, but still not have food, shelter, or other necessities. “When fighting reached the city of Kuito in Angola in 1993, a stray shell hit the home of Gloria Algeria, who was then eight. Three of her brothers were killed. Gloria lost the sight of one eye, and is paralyzed in one leg.”
Moreover, sometimes the armed forces deliberately target civilians. “During World War II (1939 – 1945), both sides bombed cities to destroy the economy and the morale of their enemy. Germany bombed Britain, killing 60,000 people and injuring another 235,000. British and American air forces bombed Germany. In Hamburg 50,000 people were killed, in Dresden up to 150,000 were killed, many of them refugees. The United States bombed Japan between 1941 and 1945. In a single air raid of Tokyo there were 125,000 casualties, 40 percent of the city was destroyed, and one million people were made homeless. The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on the city of Hiroshima killed 70,000 people, injured 51,000 and destroyed 70,000 buildings.” Additionally, “In the same war Germany fought the Soviet Union over a huge are of Europe. Both armies deliberately destroyed crops, buildings and bridges as they retreated, so as to leave nothing for the other side…By the end of the war, 17,000 towns, and over 70,000 villages were completely or party destroyed.” Therefore, at least 19 million civilians died. Millions more fled from the fighting and destruction.
Life becomes even more risky for civilians if they are caught up in a revolution, rebellion, or civil war.

These conflicts all affect civilians, they may even target civilians. In recent conflicts, civilian casualties have been as high as 84 percent of the total number of casualties. Angola is one of many African countries that have suffered years of civil war. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes by the conflict. On page 14, Rodrina Faustina tells how the war affected her and her family. “I am 42, married with six children. My son Faustino lost his leg when he stepped on a mine when he was twelve. We lived in Katabola village, but we had to leave last September because UNITA attacked the village…We walked here, it’s about 31 miles (50 kilometers), and it took us three days. At first we were put in schools in Kuito, then we came to this camp. This wasn’t the first time UNITA had attacked. In October 1990 they came to the village to the village, stealing things. I tried to escape but they shot me in the leg…”
Refugees hope to return hope eventually. But sometimes, during or after wars, governments expel people. Some people expelled from their homelands settle down in destination. On the other contrary, others wait, perhaps for a long time, to return

home.
People of different races, speaking different languages and with different religions, can and should live together, on the other hand whenever a minority is persecuted by the majority, members of the minority will migrate to escape the persecution. “Sometimes the majority go beyond persecuting the minority. They force the minority out of the country altogether, by violence or the threat of violence. This is sometimes known as ethnic cleansing.” Sometimes the majority attempts to wipe out the minority altogether, by mass killing. This is called genocide.
Following this further, sometimes refugees are not safe even when they reach refugee camps. Their persecutors may follow them into the camps, or fighting may break out nearby. Then again, attacks on refugee camps how that the only real security is when there is peace and they can return home.
In final analysis, refugees and asylum seekers want safety. Each of them have their own story and struggles; and each of them are facing long and difficult journeys finding security and protection. These people do not choose to flee their country, their home, or their life. They do it because they have no other choice. They do it to survive, as many witness their loved ones, including their children, being brutally murdered. They do it for the sake of their family. They are alone; they live in fear everyday not knowing what will happen to them. They have left behind their homes, livelihoods, and possessions. They need food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and schools for their children. So it is clear to see that, life as a refugee is extremely tough!