UN chief calls out UK Home Secretary over 'inhumane' migrants remark

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Nov 2022 23:58
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Volker Turk slams the Home Secretary's comments as inappropriate and warns of the consequences of dehumanizing migrants.

Newly-appointed UN rights chief Volker Turk

The newly appointed UN rights chief Volker Turk on Wednesday called out UK lawmaker Suella Braverman over her controversial remark that the UK was facing an "invasion" of asylum seekers as "horrible".

Volker slammed the comment as inappropriate and warned of the consequences of dehumanizing migrants.

Suella Braverman just said that the refugees in Dover are part of a criminal "invasion". pic.twitter.com/xO38pznAGh
— Femi (@Femi_Sorry) October 31, 2022

At his first press conference as UN rights chief, Turk said, "Invasion: horrible word."

"I'm glad that there is a strong reaction in Britain to that use of the word."

Recalling the times when he worked as the second in command at the UN refugee agency during the 2015-2016 migration crisis in Europe, Turk said, "It absolutely is the problem that we often see."

"The types of words and dehumanising language that I have heard from European politicians during that period is harrowing," he said, while warning that the use of such terms have recently been on the rise in Europe.

As the UK supposedly welcomes Ukrainian refugees with open arms, it has different plans for other immigrants, as the Home Office plans to reopen two immigration centers enough to house 1,000 asylum seekers.

As the #UK welcomes #Ukrainian refugees with open arms, it has different plans for other immigrants, as the Home Office plans to reopen 2 #immigration centers enough to house 1,000 asylum seekers. pic.twitter.com/IbHAse5Bm9
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 28, 2022

Currently, the UK government runs seven immigration detention facilities, as well as a few short-term holding facilities throughout the nation, which can house 3,000 people at once.

If the two additional centers are built, the number of people the Home Office may imprison will more than double.

On August 28, The Guardian reported that 50,000 Ukrainian refugees in the UK could be made homeless next year, the UK government has been warned, but ministers are refusing to offer a fresh package of support to offset the impending crisis.

On October 26, the Washington Post reported that the EU is lagging on its commitments to provide Ukrainian refugees with appropriate accommodation, jobs, and schooling for their children.

Ever since the EU adopted the Temporary Protection Directive in March, Ukrainians were promised that they would be provided homes, jobs, and healthcare and have their children sent to school in whichever country of the 27 EU states they choose to settle in for up to three years.

Though it is clear that the extent of support is unprecedented, especially when compared to the Syrian migrant crisis of 2015 and 2016, many have expressed frustration over the constant moving and the difficulty of securing a job, with over 3 million Ukrainians who reportedly returned to Ukraine, either because it seemed safe enough or because life as a refugee was just too much to bear.