[322.1] GETTING THE WIDER PICTURE

The London agency Praxis, which is inclusive of people of all faiths and none in its way of working, runs a series of stats and facts on refugees and asylum seekers across the banner on its site. They are very apposite and read as follows:

* 95 per cent of refugees worldwide never reach wealthy nations like Britain.
* Refugee population of Middle East and North Africa – 43 per cent. Sub-Saharan Africa – 22 per cent. South Asia – 18 per cent. And Europe? … 8 per cent.
* Of the 12 million refugees in the world, 7 million have been confined to camps or segregated settlements.
* In 2001, Canada granted protection to 97 per cent of Afghan asylum seekers. Britain granted protection to 19 per cent.
* Under the 1951 United Nations Convention on Refugees, anyone has the right to apply for asylum and remain until a decision has been made.
* There is no such thing as an ‘illegal asylum seeker’.

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