As Britain continues to work towards making ‘Operation Warm Welcome’ successful to support incoming Afghan refugees after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, it is imperative to remember our past, learn from what worked back then, and embrace the helpless for a safer and promising future.
49 years ago, when Ugandan Asians were expelled by the brutal dictator Idi Amin, Edward Heath’s Conservative government committed to Britain’s duty to help those who were a part of the expulsion. Despite advertisements in Leicester newspapers that warned Ugandans to not go there due to lack of jobs and homes, Ugandan Asians became an integral part of Britain.
“The rest as they say is history. The tale of Ugandan Asians in Britain is one that makes me proud, particularly when I see how much the new generation of British Indians of Ugandan origin has excelled. In 49 years, we have come far, and I hope that our community continues to pay Britain back for what she has given us. Former Prime Minister David Cameron referred to us as, “one of the most successful groups of immigrants to any country anywhere in history.” We became the model immigrant community, used as an example of how immigration can be successful,” Lord Dolar Popat articulated in his moving Ode to Ugandan Asians in Britain in Asian Voice on the 49th anniversary of the Ugandan expulsion this year.
He further explained how those who had to flee Uganda have seen amazing levels of success, from family-run businesses becoming major global trading companies and dominating the Rich Lists in the UK, to the boardrooms of FTSE 100 firms, Ugandan Asians have woven themselves into the fabric of British life.
“Notable Ugandan Asians in key posts include Tushar Morzaria (Group Finance Director at Barclays), Baroness Shriti Vadera (Chair, Santander), Nitin Ganatra (Actor) and of course our Home Secretary Priti Patel. Our Parliament has effectively become Uganda’s second chamber, with eight Parliamentarians of Ugandan origin,” he wrote.
Former British Prime Minister David Cameron had also expressed the same sentiment in 2012, that Indians and Asians from Uganda are “one of the most successful groups of immigrants anywhere in the history of the world”.
If we as a community can rise above our misfortune and hurdles to have come so far as the country reopens and the UK witnesses one of the most successful vaccination drives in the world, then we sure can help Afghans who are seeking solace in a home away from home. Most of them will grow up here, find foster homes, find a reason to live, marry and raise their children. Let’s nurture ‘Operation Empathy’.
Asian Voice has tried to compile some initiatives by the members of the community which may set an example for future generations, that we learnt well from our past and practised empathy towards Afghans who may never be able to return home after all.
Reacting to the ongoing operations to rehabilitate Afghans in the UK, renowned social worker Kanti Nagda MBE told us, “Many Indians are aware of the tragedy Ugandan Asians faced when Idi Amin expelled them, similarly Indians have witnessed the way Afghanis have had to leave Afghanistan and as human beings are very eager to assist them when they come to settle in the UK. Indian groups have collected essential items and funds and are donating them to the newly arrived refugees coupled with taking part in demonstrations to welcome them to some cities in the UK. Indians are known for their generosity, and they will certainly assist them to settle in the UK. "
Go Dharmic helping displaced Afghan Refugees
Go Dharmic has a campaign going both in the UK and India for Afghan refugees. The charity has organised within areas where they have food distribution facilities in the UK and near any of the Afghan refugee families in need now to aid them in food, clothing & toiletries.
Their distribution in the UK is all over the country, but they also mainly focusing on Hertfordshire.
Hanuman Dass, Chairman & Founder of Go Dharmic told Asian Voice, “The pandemic has shown us how vulnerable we all truly are. Many of us used to consider charity to be supporting people in distant lands, far removed from our reality here in the UK. Covid has changed this. The elderly isolated, people around us were lost and thousands struggled to feed their own children.
“Our hearts have been softened and we are becoming more sensitive. After 20 years of relative freedom, the Taliban have ousted the Government in Kabul and people are seeking refuge from the global community. Dharma is Love for All beings, and GD volunteers have been collecting thousands of items of clothing for the refugees reaching the UK. Each week there are ten Go Dharmic food distributions where people in need can collect food for free. We will and should do everything we can to ease their suffering.
“In India, the last remaining Afghan Hindus and Sikhs are desperate to reach Delhi. For those lucky enough to get out, we are in constant touch providing food aid and educational support to the children of the Refugees. The highest expression of Sanatan Dharma is compassion. We must act in the now, rather than being passive bystanders.”
Meeting Afghans in the UK in solidarity
“The international community must keep borders open and provide protection to Afghans,” Migrant Voice said. Salman Mirza, Birmingham Network Worker for Migrant Voice shared details of what his team has been trying to do so far to support Afghan refugees across the UK and Europe.
Migrant Voice has signed a statement released by RISE – Refugees Ideas and Solutions for Europe, in response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, we urge global leaders and the United Nations to ensure that: Everyone whose life and rights are at risk in Afghanistan should be granted refugee protection and safe, legal routes to access protection; The international community should support Afghans fleeing to neighbouring countries and offer them humanitarian assistance; Every Afghan asylum seeker must be given immediate protection wherever they are in the world; Resettlement schemes must be scaled up and accelerated; Family reunification must be accelerated and expanded to cover a wider circle of family members; All removals and deportations to Afghanistan must be permanently suspended; The international community should listen to the voices of Afghan refugees and work with them to develop strategies and responses to the unfolding humanitarian situation.
During a meeting organised by Migrant Voice in solidarity with Afghan refugees and communities, the Emergency Network heard stories shared by many Afghan speakers and participants, including a medical student who had fled Afghanistan aged five and a journalist who was recently evacuated to the UK from Kabul. The meeting was attended by over 60 people from the UK and from Europe.
Speakers from Afghanistan told of their desperation in watching events back in their home country: of how they are unable to help family members, whose lives are now at risk.
There was a collective agreement that the UK government must step up and take in many more Afghans who need protection. Its resettlement scheme was also criticised for not providing enough details to the charities and NGOs supporting Afghan asylum seekers, who are ready and willing to support the resettlement efforts.
One refugee-led group which supports Afghan families in the West Midlands told of how Afghans have arrived at the UK with nothing. However, he said that the local community had fortunately stepped up to provide support and donations.
At the same time, concern was also expressed that the exclusive focus on evacuation and resettlement neglects the desperate situation Afghan asylum seekers in the UK are faced with. UK could and should be granting protection to those in the territory as a matter of priority so that they can join the efforts to offer welcome to new arrivals too and start the family reunification process.
Nazek Ramadan from Migrant Voice UK participated as one of the key speakers in sharing messages of support and offers of help, with a shared sense of solidarity around how to continue supporting Afghan people to get to safety.
Petition to save an Afghan refugee in the UK from Taliban
Salman Mirza has also started an online petition to help Bashir Ahmadzai, an Afghan refugee in the UK, to stay back in the country. The petition on Change.org mentions Bashir Ahmadzai came to the UK when he was 14, escaping the Taliban over 10 years ago. Bashir claimed asylum in 2008 as a child fleeing war, but his claim was rejected by the Home Office.
His father and brother were murdered by the Taliban as they refused to join, so Bashir then had no choice other than to leave when he was just a child. Even though the judge in his case accepted "there has been a deterioration in the security situation in Kabul" they insist he goes and lives there even though he’s never been to Kabul. The judge went on to say "I have no doubt that removal from the UK would be ..difficult"
The Taliban have now taken control of Afghanistan so to deport Bashir to Kabul could be a death sentence. On arrival in the UK Bashir was placed into foster care and looked after by local authority, Bashir was granted a temporary Status in the UK until he turned 18, in the last 10 years he has integrated into UK society making many friends and like many other young people has hopes and dreams of a peaceful life.
Bashir’s foster mother views him as a ‘part of the family’ and has described him as a ‘genuine, polite, respectful, caring and kind’ young man who is ‘always willing to help with anything’. She feels ‘certain Bashir will succeed if given the opportunity’. Bashir had spent nearly half of his life in the UK and considers Britain as home. The petition has nearly 35,000 signatures.
Birmingham Live spoke to Bashir who said, "I am really shocked, and heartbroken to see what's happening and now it is going backwards from the past 20 years.
"It's an unsafe and lawless country that has collapsed and has no law and order so for me to go back would be a death sentence.
"People are panicked and fleeing for their lives. So we should welcome them to Birmingham and console them with what they have went through."
Bashir's mother and sister are in Afghanistan but unfortunately, he doesn't know where they are, and whether or not they are safe.
Hoola Loop challenge to support Afghan women refugees
The Skipping Sikh MBE’s daughter, Minreet Kaur is hosting ‘Hoola Loop challenge to help Afghan Women Refugees’ with her mother. It’ll take place on September 11, at 8:15 am at Nuffield Health Gym, Stockley Park, Studio 1. There will be free Krispy Kreme donuts, free hoops and music. Sharing this information, Rajinder Singh tweeted, “Please support this great cause. We want you to get involved. You don’t need to be a member. If you can make it please contact@minkaur5 and we will provide hoops, free donut/fruit and it’s all to help women in#Afghanistan and support a fantastic cause.”
Finding hotels while refugees being "let go" after their obligatory quarantine period
The ORefugee Aid team led by Onjali Rauf in the UK, is helping Afghan families to find shelter and temporary spaces to stay in England. Sharing details of how one can help, Onjali Rauf, founder ORefugee Aid Team tweeted, “We have requests for help to fund hotel/room spaces for Afghan families coming into London. For anyone who can donate towards this (rooms cost approx £45-£60 a night dep. on family size) we would be most grateful. Central govt responses are dire. https://osrefugeeaidteam.org/donate/”
Her team that’s tirelessly working to help these refugees tweeted in despair, “What we're seeing is refugees being "let go" after their obligatory quarantine period in a government-sanctioned hotel is up, with zero or severely delayed local authority housing solutions available to them in some areas of London. How can we take people in & be this un-ready?”
Left in limbo
Together With Migrant Children UK (TwMC UK) have reacted to the latest rules published by the government that returns for Afghanistan are paused now. Responsibly articulating the adversities faced by Afghans, TwMC UK said, “There is an urgent need to grant refugee status to all Afghan's already in the UK. Paused returns, clearly not safe to return = Leaving people in most often an enforced state of destitution in the UK pending decisions, those refused etc. It's an affront to human rights.
“B, one of our care leavers had their claim refused a while ago. In section 4 support currently with further submissions. How long does this young man get left in limbo for?
“N, another one of our care leavers in a similar position. No credible threat to his life on return. Again, left in limbo slowly lurching towards the age where his care leaver support will be withdrawn, and he has to face to brutality of asylum support.
“H and family, they have a pending claim currently, which now seem to be on hold whilst the government release their new policy. Already been waiting since forever for a decision. How long do they need to remain in limbo?
Years later, when Ugandan Asians look back at their expulsion, many credit Amin for doing what he did because it changed their fortunes for the better. Afghans may not be able to do even that.
But, at this hour, while the world continues to fight the pandemic, Afghans are fighting not one, but two battles - one is Covid, the second if worse, losing a home. If the Asian community across sectors and homes has learnt one thing from the pandemic, that perseverance.
