Afghan and Somali (Post-)Conflict Migration to the EU Nassim Majidi
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32 Destination: Europe FMR 51 www.fmreview.org/destination-europe January 2016 Afghan and Somali (post-)conflict migration to the EU Nassim Majidi There are insufficiently recognised drivers of migration for Afghans and Somalis to Europe, caused by decades of conflict. Although officially listed as ‘post-conflict’, the reality is very different. Somalis and Afghans still figure in the top resorting to tahreeb (irregular migration) as ten nationalities of asylum-seeker numbers their only chance to a safe and dignified life. recorded in the European Union (EU). Over one third of asylum seekers from both Mental health of Afghans countries in 2014 were not granted refugee In 2010, Mustafa arrived in France aged status – but nor were they deemed to have 15 to seek protection and medical care, the option of a safe return.1 The mental through an asylum application. He was health of Afghan asylum seekers in Europe diagnosed with PTSD and schizophrenia and returnees to Afghanistan is at risk in 2011, for which treatment is unavailable and they require psychosocial assistance, in Afghanistan. In August 2015, his asylum while Somalis are forced into a cycle of claim was denied and France deported irregular migration at a young age. These him back to Afghanistan. His supporters are the less visible drivers of Afghan and pointed out the possible extreme danger to a Somali (post-)conflict migration to the EU. mentally ill Afghan of returning to a ‘home’ The term ‘post-conflict’ has been used where he had no remaining networks. to describe the economies and governments In June 2015, another young Afghan, of Afghanistan and Somalia and has been Omed, received a more positive response. used by EU states to turn down asylum His family had sought to get him out of requests lodged by Somalis and Afghans. Afghanistan as he was the subject of physical The UK government’s reasons for refusals attacks and beatings that could have cost his include the ‘stability’ and ‘sufficiency of life. Although he had been in the UK since protection’ available in Afghanistan, taking 2011, he had previously been denied asylum. as proof the existence of humanitarian Upon appeal, showing proof of his mental and development aid programmes funded health disorder and PTSD, his inability to live by the EU. Their existence should entail a life in safety in Afghanistan and the lack that protection is provided at home – of official protection available there to him, and hence is not required abroad. he was granted refugee status in the UK. The migration reality is different. The More and more young Afghans arrive United Nations High Commissioner for in European countries showing clear signs Refugees recorded 77,731 Afghan asylum of mental health issues that put them claims in Europe in the first six months of in life-threatening situations at home. 2015, triple the number in 2014. Many of Afghanistan has three trained psychiatrists the Somalis and Afghans arriving in the and ten psychologists for a population of EU are youth, that is, men aged between 15 over 30 million people2 and has no extensive and 24 years of age. Records from asylum psychosocial programmes to support those applications, court orders and return surveys who have suffered from conflict. Mental show an increasingly vulnerable profile health problems and PTSD – the effects among these people. Afghans lodging asylum of protracted conflict – go unresolved, claims show signs of Post-Traumatic Stress and in turn engender more violence: Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health mistreatment of and violence against issues, and express the need for psychosocial the mentally ill, and discrimination. assistance that is lacking at home. Somalis Available research suggests that a large interviewed speak of not having a choice, segment of Afghan adolescents and youth Destination: Europe 33 FMR 51 January 2016 www.fmreview.org/destination-europe suffer from untreated mental health issues and threaten them for payment. The fact resulting from trauma and stress relating that their methods lead to a physical mixing to conflict, displacement, poverty and of legal categories – with asylum seekers, continued insecurity. Mental health issues are refugees and economic migrants sharing exacerbated by the trauma of displacement, of the same journey to Europe – complicates forced returns and of migration. An analysis protection at the point of arrival. of health and safety indicators, in a sample of 2,000 youth surveyed in Kabul, confirm An obstacle to protection that the situation of deportees is particularly Afghans are the largest group of asylum alarming. Deportees are stigmatised, with seekers in Norway, and Somalis in Finland potentially fatal consequences, particularly and Denmark and among the largest groups for those without economic or social power.3 of failed asylum seekers being returned. Until 2013, and renewed international investments Irregular Somali migration to Europe in the country’s ‘post-conflict’ status, In hundreds of interviews conducted in they had higher chances of being granted Somaliland, Puntland and South Central asylum or subsidiary protection to stay in Somalia, every respondent referred destination countries. But returns are now to someone – family or friend – who being encouraged. Standards for granting had left through irregular migration to asylum to Somalis have been revised, and Europe. Our research shows that a major the suspension of returns has been revoked. driver is the overwhelming presence of Similarly, in Afghanistan, its categorisation as magafes, people smugglers, turning forced ‘post-conflict’ has meant that it is deemed safe migration into irregular migration. for returns to take place. Although violence Most Somalis will seek safety and and insecurity have risen steadily (especially opportunities at home first but the since 2007), the post-conflict label prevails continued effects of war, uncertainty and over security assessments in the field. conflict mean a weak economy and families Yet the post-conflict label and unable to provide for their children. international interventions mask key Repeated cycles of forced migration now protection needs among asylum seekers and lead increasingly to the only remaining migrants: their psychosocial needs, or their choice – irregular migration to Europe. falling prey to smugglers and criminals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) It is not enough to call their country post- states that one in three Somalis has been conflict to erase the effects of protracted affected by some kind of mental illness – crises on Afghans and Somalis who face experiencing “beating, torture, rape or have post-traumatic stress disorders, societal been injured for life”.4 In addition, both ill-treatment and lack of state protection. the WHO and Human Rights Watch report Nassim Majidi [email protected] that the mentally ill are often chained up or Co-Director and Head of Migration Research, imprisoned. Only five centres provide mental Samuel Hall www.samuelhall.org health care services. The majority does This article is based on research in Europe, not receive such aid and are marginalised Afghanistan and Somalia led by Samuel Hall. and isolated, becoming easy prey for 1. European Asylum Support Office (2015) Annual Report on the magafes promising a better life in Europe. Situation of Asylum in the European Union 2014 Magafes are a resource and a threat for https://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/EASO-Annual- those who need to claim asylum. Magafes Report-2014.pdf 2. Figures from the WHO Global Health Observatory Data have contributed to the rise of irregular Repository 2014 www.who.int/gho/database/en/ migration by enabling young people 3. Schuster L and Majidi N (2014) ‘Deportation Stigma and Re- to leave without payment. They recruit migration’, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, vol 41, issue 4. young people and do not ask for money, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1369183X.2014.957174 but when the young people reach their 4. www.who.int/hac/crises/som/somalia_mental_health/en/ destination the smugglers call the families .