There is no migrant crisis. It is a crisis of war, poverty, exploitation

Source: CAAT

Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has condemned the UK government's policies and approach to migration. This week the government sent Air Force surveillance planes to monitor the Channel, following days of hostile headlines and calls from Conservative MPs for tighter restrictions on migrants. The Home Secretary,Priti Patel, has also said she is also considering sending Naval officers.

Andrew Smith of Campaign Against Arms Trade said: "There is not a 'migrant crisis' ,it is a crisis of war, poverty, inequality and exploitation. Politicians in the UK and beyond need to stop blaming the victims of these crises and consider their own complicity and role in creating the circumstances that have displaced so many people.

"Instead they are sending UK armed forces to the Channel to intimidate the people that are crossing it. Real people's lives are on the line, and they must not be used as a cynical political tool by a government that has a long history of arming human rights abusers and fuelling conflict.

People that have left desperate and unstable situations need safe and legal routes to asylum and to be reunited with friends and family. They should not be met by hostile environment policies and shameful political attacks."

Ben Bano, from 'Seeking Sanctuary' commented: "We agree with CAAT in their analysis of the current crisis. Behind every story of someone risking their lives in the Channel is a story of war, persecution, poverty and conflict, all too often fuled by our immoral involvement in a burgeoning arms trade."

'Seeking Sanctuary' aims to raise awareness about people displaced from their homes and to channel basic humanitarian assistance from Faith Communities and Community Organisations via partnerships with experienced aid workers. Our special concern is for the 2000 or so exiles who are stuck in north-western France, mistakenly expecting a welcome in the UK.

They need food, water, good counsel and clothes, which are accepted, sorted and distributed by several organisations, including two Calais warehouses which also supply needs further afield.

LINKS

Campaign Against the Arms Trade - www.caat.org.uk/
Seeking Sanctuary - www.seekingsanctuary.weebly.com