FORCED MIGRANTS IN EUROPE:
LIVING IN LIMBO
Poverty of forced migrants in Europe a result of
States’ policies!
On the occasion of the World Food Day (16 Oct) and the
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17
Oct), the Jesuit Refugee Service Europe (JRS) draws
attention to the desperate situation of destitute forced
migrants in Europe. All over the European Union we
accompany migrants who for good reasons cannot return to
countries of origin but are completely excluded from
social services in the countries where they are living.
“These persons are living in limbo, in an impasse,
without any perspective,” says Stefan Kessler, Policy
Officer with JRS. The organisation is currently running
a research and advocacy project on the situation of
these destitute migrants.
“Our findings clearly show that it is not fate but
policies of state authorities that completely exclude
certain groups of migrants from any official assistance
and leave them in distress and penury”, continues
Kessler, “access to housing, to health care, education,
social assistance and work the situation of these
migrants is especially worrisome.
In Romania even recognised refugees who have a right to
remain in the country may find themselves on the streets
without any assistance. In Sweden, failed asylum seekers
must pay excessively high rents for a place to sleep in
already overcrowded apartments. Portuguese law
guarantees everyone access to health care, but in
day-to-day practice it can be very difficult for
migrants to be received in hospitals outside of
emergency care. In Germany, only a few Laender have
clear rules guaranteeing every child access to
education. These policies are clearly violating the
human rights of the affected migrants and cause severe
social problems.
JRS appeals to governments of EU Member States to
immediately change their policies in order to ensure
that everyone has access to basic social rights such as
housing, education, social assistance or work. The
European Union, in turn, must develop stricter
regulations forcing governments to guarantee access to
those rights. In particular, the European Parliament is
encouraged to set up an investigation into the situation
of destitute forced migrants in the EU Member States and
publicly take a firm stance on this issue.
For more information please contact:
Jesuit Refugee Service Europe, Rue du Progrès 333/2,
1030 Bruxelles, Belgium, phone: +32 2 250 32 21 (Stefan
Kessler)
email: europe.senioradvocacy@jrs.net
www.jrseurope.org
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