On Thursday 5th of July 2022 at Harrow Arts Centre, Prof Louise Ryan and Dr María López from London Metropolitan University and the Global Diversities and Inequalities Research Centre presented findings from their research project ‘Afghan Migrants in London: Accessing Support in Hostile Times’.
The research was based on interviews with Afghan refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers – some told their stories from bridging hotels shortly after arriving in the UK, while others have resettled in London a long time ago.
Both the Afghan Association of London (Harrow) & the Afghan Association Paiwand have played a crucial part in this research project on the recently arrived Afghan refugees in London. Additionally they facilitated the interviews and helped to recruit participants.
The interviews revealed some of the major difficulties Afghan immigrants face upon coming to the UK, including profound uncertainty brought on by being trapped in temporary housing for a prolonged period of time (to date, all interviewees have still not been accommodated), the language barrier, deskilling—working jobs they are overqualified for, because their qualifications are not recognised here—profound mental health issues, as well as worrying about their family back home.
The results provide a comprehensive overview of the major challenges that Afghan refugees and applicants for asylum in the UK confront. They also help in determining what has to be done to meet Afghans’ requirements.
Afghan Association Paiwand: https://www.paiwand.com/
Global Diversities and Inequalities Research Centre:
https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/research/centres-groups-and-units/global-diversities-and-inequalities-research-centre/?fbclid=IwAR1ysKQLN7VioY4D7GZ7mvaErAGeTUR5kGqC2gHo9XPbaubGxccpDwhekGU
