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Things you didn’t know about our work with people seeking asylum
At almost every moment of every day, Red Cross and Red Crescent teams are working to protect and restore dignity to people, wherever they are on the migration journey.
People seeking asylum are #NotAlone
Across the globe, people who migrate or are displaced from their homes face unacceptable risks. But people on the move are not alone in their journeys.
Whether at land or sea, the work of the International Federation of the Red Cross network – including the British Red Cross – aims to save lives, reduce risks and provide access to essential services.
1. We are there for people when they need us most
We have a long tradition of helping refugees and people seeking asylum after they escape from conflict and persecution, and today we remain the largest single provider of support for refugees in the UK.
There were an estimated 231,597 refugees living by our side in 2022, and more today. We aim to give care and comfort to every person that needs it.
2. Our refugee centres help people living in poverty
When people seeking asylum in the UK arrive, they are not allowed to work and thousands can find access to government support difficult.
With no income and nowhere else to turn, many people rely on the 58 Red Cross refugee centres across the UK. Here, they can find a warm welcome, essential supplies and guidance.
3. We help refugee families find their feet
Arriving in the UK can be an overwhelming and scary experience for families, so we help with the basics like food and clothes.
In 2019, we delivered over 17,000 food parcels and over 1,000 packs of baby supplies to families who may have been lost without them. We also help families get to grips with their new surroundings, and take on admin tasks like helping register children in schools and at the doctors.
4. We bring families back together
Some refugees who escape crises end up being separated from their families. We help people reunite with their loved ones in the UK by helping with visa applications and arranging flights where appropriate.
5. We were still helping during the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic plunged the world into crisis, but refugees and people seeking asylum still needed our help. The pandemic created extra challenges, but our hardworking teams were able to overcome them and continue to support those who needed our help.
6. Our translators help people settle in
When refugees and people seeking asylum arrive in the UK, many do not speak English. We provide a translator to reassure them and make sure their needs are met. What’s more, our new project employs some refugees to teach others. And our website is accessible in different languages.
7. We speak up for a fairer asylum system
When people arrive in the UK asking for help, we want to see a fair, effective and efficient asylum system that treats people with respect and dignity. As one of the UK’s leading charities, we use our voice to call on UK decision-makers to provide sanctuary, financial support and legal advice.
8. Our research spotlights how people suffer in detention centres
The UK is the only European country which has no time limit on how long someone can be detained for, and it can take years for the Home Office to decide if people will be allowed to stay in the UK.
Our report Never Truly Free offers a first-hand perspective on the harm caused by detention. We use it as evidence to support our call for asylum reform.
9. All of our services rely on the kindness of volunteers
All around the UK, our volunteers advise refugees and people seeking asylum on how to get access to healthcare, justice, integration and education.
Whoever you are, whatever your skills, you can share your kindness by volunteering with our refugee services and restoring family links team. We have roles based all over the UK if you want to get involved, search our volunteer database.
Help us support refugees
Alarm Phone, an organisation that provides independent support to people attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to the European Union, has commended SOS Humanity for rescuing 65 people who were found in distress in the central Mediterranean.
In a post on X, Alarm Phone said the group had alerted the organisation after the 65 people contacted it while in distress at sea. Alarm Phone said it subsequently notified authorities and civilian search-and-rescue organisations, but it was the civil fleet that responded to the emergency.
“Rescued!” Alarm Phone said, thanking SOS Humanity for responding to the distress call and carrying out the rescue operation.
The development follows an earlier report by Voice for African Migrants that the SOS Humanity search-and-rescue vessel Humanity 1 had rescued 65 people, including 10 minors and four women, after they were found in distress following a journey from Libya.
According to SOS Humanity, the rescue was conducted on Wednesday afternoon after the group had reportedly spent three days exposed to the open sea and extreme heat.
The Humanity 1 crew said the distress situation was reported by Alarm Phone, with reconnaissance aircraft Albatross Uno also helping to locate the people in need of assistance.
The survivors were reportedly found exhausted and dehydrated and were taken aboard Humanity 1, where they received emergency medical care.
SOS Humanity criticised European migration policies, accusing European governments of abandoning people in distress while civil search-and-rescue organisations face increasing scrutiny and political criticism.
The organisation said the rescue demonstrated the importance of civilian search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean and reaffirmed its commitment to rescuing people in distress, documenting their experiences and providing protection to those in need.
Alarm Phone has repeatedly called for greater protection of people attempting to cross the Mediterranean and for an effective European search-and-rescue system to prevent deaths at sea.
Le navire de recherche et de sauvetage Humanity 1 de SOS Humanity International a secouru 65 personnes, dont 10 mineurs et quatre femmes, après les avoir retrouvées en détresse en mer, à la suite d’une traversée au départ de la Libye.
Selon un communiqué de SOS Humanity International publié sur X, l’opération de sauvetage a été menée mercredi après-midi. Les migrants auraient passé trois jours exposés à la mer et à une chaleur extrême.
Selon l’équipage de l’Humanity 1, la situation de détresse avait été signalée par Alarm Phone et l’avion de reconnaissance Albatross Uno, qui ont contribué à alerter les secouristes sur la position des migrants.
Les survivants ont été retrouvés épuisés et déshydratés. Ils reçoivent désormais des soins médicaux d’urgence à bord de l’Humanity 1.
L’organisation de sauvetage a critiqué les politiques migratoires européennes, accusant les gouvernements européens d’abandonner les personnes en détresse tandis que les organisations de recherche et de sauvetage font l’objet d’une surveillance et de critiques croissantes.
« C’est la société civile qui a sauvé ces personnes », a déclaré l’équipage, soulignant qu’il poursuivrait ses opérations de recherche et de sauvetage malgré l’opposition politique.
L’organisation a également réaffirmé son engagement à secourir les personnes en détresse en mer, à documenter leurs expériences et à assurer la protection de celles qui en ont besoin.
SOS Humanity (International) search-and-rescue vessel, Humanity 1 has rescued 65 people, including 10 minors and four women, after they were found in distress at sea following a journey from Libya.
According to a statement by SOS Humanity (International) on X, the rescue operation was carried out on Wednesday afternoon after the migrants had reportedly spent three days exposed to the open sea and extreme heat.
According to the Humanity 1 crew, the distress situation was reported by Alarm Phone and reconnaissance aircraft Albatross Uno, which helped alert rescuers to the migrants’ location.
The survivors were found exhausted and dehydrated and are now receiving emergency medical care aboard the Humanity 1.
The rescue organisation criticised European migration policies, accusing European governments of abandoning people in distress while search-and-rescue organisations face increasing scrutiny and criticism.
“It was civil society that rescued these people,” the crew said, stressing that it would continue its search-and-rescue operations despite political opposition.
The organisation said it would continue to rescue people in distress at sea, document their experiences and provide protection to those in need.
Alarm Phone salue le sauvetage de personnes en détresse par SOS Humanity
Alarm Phone commends SOS Humanity for rescuing distressed people
Humanity 1 secourt 10 mineurs et 55 autres personnes en détresse en mer
Humanity 1 rescues 10 minors, 55 others in distress at sea
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