Why do refugees specifically have to come to the UK?

I don't know how much detail I can go into, given that this is a story he trusted us with on the grounds that it's going into this short film, but I'll try and give you an overview with hopefully enough detail.

The Eritrean people are forced into national service at 18, "We are to live for them, but they don't care about us". The government can't really pay them but they have to do it. If they find you trying to flee, they can make the call to shoot or imprison you there and then.

He and some others fled to Sudan on foot for 4 hours. Some Sudanese people found them and took them to a camp. There wasn't much food at the camp, but you could contact smugglers. They take 800 SDG and they transported them to Khartoum. It wasn't safe there as they rounded up whoever they found, but he stayed for 6 months and didn't manage to get enough money for the journey, but "good people" helped him.

These new smugglers were "crazy" Libyan men, they got high on drugs and abused the people they smuggled, but you had to take it or die/be handed in. They took them in land-rovers for a weeks journey across the Sahara, the hardest trip he has ever experienced. 8 cars, 30 people in each, all sharing a scarce food/water supply with no chance of getting more on the way. Being the desert, at night it was freezing, and during the day it was painfully hot. They ran out of food on the last day but just about made it. One car had it's tyre burst, injuring the passengers as it flipped and killing 2 of them. The smugglers hid the bodies to not be caught while stashing the people away in whatever hole they could. He said the refugee's looked after each other, they had to.

Finally in Libya, they journeyed to the capital, 60 to a truck, covered in washing powder. He never saw Tripoli because he had to hide 24/7 in 3 rooms he shared with 100 people. There, they waited for the Mediterranean to have clear weather so they could pass. A small, damaged wooden boat tried to carry 300 people across the sea, and they were terrified. Partially of capsizing/drowning, but also because the Libyan government patrolled the waters.

An Italian ship rescued them and helped them get to land, from where they traveled 2 hours to a hostel. Despite feeling "relieved" and "free" being in Europe, they went on the run again before their fingerprints could be taken. They made their way to Rome and then France, then changed trains for a journey to Paris, taking them about 6 hours. Paris was beautiful, but he'd decided to go the the UK because he actually spoke the language, as well as the chance at education and work.

Surviving Calais for 3 weeks on charity, he learned to spot which trucks were going to the UK (licence plate). Him and some others climbed in one at night and they crossed over. They'd check the weight of the trucks, use cameras and dogs, but this guy wasn't found. In the UK, he banged on the door to be let out and the startled driver called the police. They knew this would happen so they were calm. The police took them to prison before releasing them to a hostel. There they stayed for a few days before the screen interview, which got them sent to a bigger hostel in Wakefield. 3 weeks later they got moved to Barnsley, had their (successful) asylum application after 3 months and were granted the right to stay in the UK.

I have a question for any one concerned about the refugee crisis, which I hope is everone! As the picture tries to convey, the refugees are fleeing the war in Syria and many wish to come to the UK or other western European states. However there isn't war in the surrounding Arab or Turkish nations or in the Balkans.

Unlike many people who have shared this picture I am in favour of the UK doing its part to help the refugees but I don't see why it has to be by allowing them to come here. Why can't the UK pay for the housing, support and potentially settlement of refugees in the nations surrounding Syria?

This would remove many problems and concerns people raise concerning refugees. It removes the need to transport refugees hundreds of miles, it allows them to far more easily return home when the war is over, they would be in countries with far more similar cultures to them allowing much easier integration etc. They could even be allowed to work in those countries to stimulate their economies, which those countries need much more than the UK, and to provide for themselves.

I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts.

Where do I apply for all these 'free' things? Nothing is ever free. Anyway,the UK offers them a lot of opportunities. I would welcome them into my house,it's big enough and most likely give them free money

Wow, he went through a lot. I can't imagine what he must had gone through. His journey was truly commendable and I am happy he got an asylum at the end. No human being should be made to go through what he went through.

benefits

Indeed, really gives you perspective. If he'd go through that to live in England then he's worked harder than half the people that want him gone.

London accounts for 22% of GDP

very multicultural

Hey Stoic, long time no see

It's because the UK is rich and has the resources to deal with a large number of them.

Correlation does not imply causation. Londons wealth is due to the financial sector, which is dominated by white British, mostlly men.

In Hungary /Turkey /Jordan and the other safer countries they house refugees in refugee camps, there is no benefits/no hospitals and no education/opportunities for the kids.

This is a photo of a camp in Turkey




Another camp in Jordan



Once in the "Richer European countries" they are immediately given a house, their children are sent to school with other kids, they get benefits and they can bring their family over.

Just watch the thousands that will risk their life's in the coming months to get to Germany

I have a question for any one concerned about the refugee crisis, which I hope is everone! As the picture tries to convey, the refugees are fleeing the war in Syria and many wish to come to the UK or other western European states. However there isn't war in the surrounding Arab or Turkish nations or in the Balkans.

Unlike many people who have shared this picture I am in favour of the UK doing its part to help the refugees but I don't see why it has to be by allowing them to come here. Why can't the UK pay for the housing, support and potentially settlement of refugees in the nations surrounding Syria?

This would remove many problems and concerns people raise concerning refugees. It removes the need to transport refugees hundreds of miles, it allows them to far more easily return home when the war is over, they would be in countries with far more similar cultures to them allowing much easier integration etc. They could even be allowed to work in those countries to stimulate their economies, which those countries need much more than the UK, and to provide for themselves.

I'd be interested to hear peoples thoughts.