Fear and Resilience: Hull’s Asylum Seekers Struggle with Safety Concerns Post-Riots

Two months following an attack on their hotel during the UK riots, asylum seekers in Hull remain hesitant to venture outside. Although they empathize with the grievances about their complimentary accommodations, they emphasize that it was a government decision to house them there during the processing of their applications.

Local Communities Reporter @BeckyJohnsonSky

Tuesday, October 8, 2024, 2:

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At a community center in Hull, clusters of asylum seekers line up for tea and toast while seeking guidance from immigration specialists.

The room is bustling, more crowded than it has been since the disturbances.

The organizers of the weekly gathering report that, initially, the recent violence had left many people too frightened to attend.

In similar fashion to other urban areas, rioters targeted a hotel that was accommodating migrants.

Wahag, aged 24, recounted observing the assault from a third-floor hotel window.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said in Arabic, "I was frightened. I watched as individuals hurled stones and rocks at the hotel."

He mentioned that they, along with other migrants, were cautioned against going outside.

He expresses his fear of possible future unrest, stating, "If it happens again, the consequences could be severe."

Wahag recently arrived in the UK via a small boat, having traveled across Europe from Yemen just a few months prior.

The unrest has given him conflicting feelings about the UK, a place he once believed would be a refuge.

"He acknowledges the mix of bad and good individuals," he muses, yet he believes that the UK possesses a "good government."

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Wahag has announced that he has been granted permission to stay in the UK by the Home Office.

The resolution was reached sooner than anticipated. His case is among numerous asylum requests addressed following Labour's electoral victory, as the party starts to address a pileup of pending applications.

He expressed his contentment with Labour taking the reins of government.

"He mentions that the former administration was keen on deporting them, but the current one is simplifying the process for them."

This implies that he must vacate the hotel, yet he is now at liberty to establish his life in Britain.

Many of the migrants we interviewed continue to exhibit caution when venturing outside.

William, a Kenyan, feels that asylum seekers are singled out due to the perception that they arrive to pursue financial gain or take local jobs.

He argues that it's unjust to fault migrants for the housing and assistance provided to them.

"William attributes it to the Home Office and the government."

"Being granted the opportunity to work would enable us to avoid residing in hotels without charge."

"They can't blame us for choosing that hotel for me."

Nine years after arriving in the UK hidden in a lorry, Mustafa was present in the hotel when it came under attack by rioters.

He remembers hearing cries of "we need to burn the hotel, we need to burn the people in the hotel," and commends the police for ensuring his and others' safety.

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At the beginning of the year, Mustafa, who hails from Iraq, found himself in

His request for refuge was denied, and he found himself resting on a bench in the park.

He has recently submitted a new application, resulting in the Home Office providing him with hotel accommodation as he awaits a ruling.

When questioned about his comprehension of why some might be irritated that he has access to a hotel room—a privilege not extended to native Britons in dire straits—he responded, "of course, of course."

He states, "You're aware of how the Home Office operates. It's not our responsibility that I was placed in that hotel."

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A spokesperson from the Home Office stated that they are committed to reinstating stability in the asylum system, which has faced extraordinary strain, ensuring it functions efficiently, decisively, and justly.

They also stated, "Necessary steps have been implemented to resume the processing of asylum applications and to eliminate the backlog, which is projected to save taxpayers approximately £7 billion over the coming decade."

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