refugees

How to support refugees’ and asylum seekers’ health and wellbeing

By Jo Biglin Filed Under: All posts, Growth and Inclusion, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Urban Posted: August 10, 2020

Spending time in an allotment was permitted as a form of exercise throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, and as it eases, provides a physically distanced way of socialising. In this blog, researcher Jo Biglin outlines the vital role these spaces play in the mental and physical wellbeing of asylum seekers and refugees, and suggests policies to […]

Our system for housing asylum seekers is failing, we must do better

By Jonathan Darling Filed Under: All posts, British Politics, Urban Posted: February 1, 2017

In light of this week’s report into Asylum Accommodation by the Home Affairs Select Committee, Dr Jonathan Darling, who submitted expert evidence to the inquiry, responds to its findings and suggests a way forwards. Asylum accommodation is currently provided through six regional contracts with three private providers There have been reports of substandard and inappropriate […]

What does Habitat 3’s New Urban Agenda mean for the displaced?

By Luis Eduardo Perez Murcia Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 20, 2016

This month more than 25,000 delegates meet in Quito, Ecuador, for the Habitat 3 conference which sets out the United Nations’ New Urban Agenda – a guide to policies and approaches for the sustainable development and planning of cities and towns across the globe for the next 20 years. As part of The University of Manchester’s research […]

The right to have rights: aspirations for a ‘just’ city?

By Tanja Müller Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 18, 2016

Out of Africa: Asylum seekers, Europe and the ‘capacity to aspire’

By Tanja Müller Filed Under: All posts, Brexit, Ethnicity Posted: June 23, 2016

Recent debates about Europe in light of the EU Referendum have centred heavily on two main issues – immigration and the economy. To mark Refugee Week, which seeks to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, Tanja Müller argues that EU asylum and refugee law is making unfair distinctions between countries, and that the […]

The quest for solidarity in a fractured Europe II – in the aftermath of ‘Paris’

By Tanja Müller Filed Under: All posts, Europe Posted: November 20, 2015

A few months ago Tanja Müller wrote a blog on the failed quest for solidarity in Europe in light of the movement of refugees and migrants. Here she follows that up with another in the wake of devastating Paris attacks. The main response in too many countries then – and I wrote the previous blog […]

The EU’s Turkey Conundrum

By Mustafa Cirakli Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted: November 13, 2015

Europe’s refugee crisis continues. The EU’s deal with Turkey may provide humanitarian assistance, respite for European leaders and a better dialogue with Turkey, argues Mustafa Cirakli. Turkey-EU membership talks formally began in 2005, but there has been little progress. In part this is because of opposition from several ‘core’ member states, notably France and Germany. […]

Refugees: Lessons from history

By Peter Gatrell Filed Under: All posts Posted: October 2, 2015

Peter Gatrell teaches a course on refugees in modern world history and is author of “The Making of the Modern Refugee”. Here he makes a few observations about what history can teach today’s policy makers. Never has this subject seemed timelier or more troubling than in 2015. Here I reflect on two questions: what might […]

Business as usual on migration and climate change will not produce sustainable development

By Uma Kothari Filed Under: All posts Posted: September 16, 2015

Professor Uma Kothari explores what may happen with development and migration as climate change begins to have an impact. The impacts of climate change are likely to be severe. Extreme weather events, heat stress, rising sea levels, infections and disease are just some potential results, which will hit poor and vulnerable populations in developing countries […]

Refugee crisis: An open letter to David Cameron and Teresa May

By Rob Ford and Maria Sobolewska Filed Under: All posts, Ethnicity, Featured Posted: September 7, 2015

Academics Rob Ford and Maria Sobolewska have written an open letter, reproduced below and signed by 365 people, asking Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Teresa May urging them to do more to help the thousands of refugees currently trying to make their way across Europe. Rt Hon David Cameron MP 10 Downing Street London […]