These images were all shot during 'Refugee Week' in London, June 2009.
They constitute part of a longer project I'm attempting about various aspects of life as a refugee here in London in 2009.
For extended text, please see below the images.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE)
(Above: 'Celebrating sanctuary' refugee festival, South Bank 2009. Visitors looking at photo display about refugees. )
(Above: 'Celebrating sanctuary' refugee festival, South Bank 2009. Visitors looking at photo display about refugees. )
Above: Refugee football tournament. Young refugee in action. (Refugee VI versus UK MP team, versus Guardian newspaper team, versus SkySports team. 2009.
Above: Refugee football tournament. Young refugee takes a break. (Refugee VI versus UK MP team, versus Guardian newspaper team, versus SkySports team. 2009.
Above: Refugee football tournament. Young refugee takes a break. (Refugee VI versus UK MP team, versus Guardian newspaper team, versus SkySports team. 2009.
Above: Refugee football tournament. Young refugees discussing tactics. (Refugee VI versus UK MP team, versus Guardian newspaper team, versus SkySports team. 2009.
Above: Refugee football tournament. Young refugees receiving medals. (Refugee VI versus UK MP team, versus Guardian newspaper team, versus SkySports team. 2009.
Above: Refugee football tournament. Young refugees receiving medals. (Refugee VI versus UK MP team, versus Guardian newspaper team, versus SkySports team. 2009.
Above: Charity cricket match. Refugee VI versus 'Free Foresters' cricket team. The refugee team enters the pitch. 2009.
Above: Charity cricket match. Refugee VI versus 'Free Foresters' cricket team. Young refugees watch their friends in action. 2009.
Above: Charity cricket match. Refugee VI versus 'Free Foresters' cricket team. Young refugees watch their friends in action. 2009.
Above: Charity cricket match. Refugee VI versus 'Free Foresters' cricket team. Refugee team at half time. 2009.
Above: Charity cricket match. Refugee VI versus 'Free Foresters' cricket team. Both teams - group photo. 2009.
Above: Hannah prepares props for the World Refugee Day 'Still human, still here' demonstration. London 2009.
Above: preparing props and banners for the World Refugee Day demo at Ulrike and hannah's house. 2009.
Above: World Refugee Day demo. Westminster, London. 2009.
Above: World Refugee Day demo. Westminster, London. 2009. Rainbow flag.
Above: World Refugee Day demo. Westminster, London. 2009. Member of the refugee community addresses crowd in Trafalgar Square.
Above: World Refugee Day demo. Westminster, London. 2009. Member of the refugee community addresses crowd in Trafalgar Square.
[EXTENDED TEXT.] as seen in my article on Indymedia.
‘Refugee week’ is an international event initiated by UNHCR (United Nations High Commisioner for Refugees), which marked its eighth anniversary this year. The aim of this event is to raise awareness of the horrendous plight of refugees, as well as people displaced ‘internally’ inside their own country, around the world.
Growing in importance gradually, this year’s programme of events in London were supported strongly by the ‘Refugee Council’ and Amnesty International, among other organisations. Both of these rightly used their involvement to underline the depressing failure of successive UK governments to employ successful strategies to handle exhausted incoming refugees from countries around the world. It should not be forgotten that several of the countries concerned, (such as Afghanistan and Iraq) have had their populations devastated by ongoing conflicts involving British troops. To inflict violence on a population, and then treat the refugees that flee with policies that humiliate them- possibly as a deterrent for more to follow in their wake- is utterly shameful. This represents a failure by the UK government to protect the human rights of innocent people in need on UK soil, and must be urgently addressed.
Each event was well attended, and although the message was a sombre one, each was carried out in such positive spirit it was impossible not to get swept up in it all and end the week on a high, with the demonstration through London on ‘World Refugee Day’ – Saturday 20th June. The speeches and poems at the end of this demo, particularly by members of various refugee communities in London, were powerful and heartfelt... and brought home how harsh the realities are of life as a refugee or asylum seeker -even in a comparatively ‘well-off’ country like the UK.
Long may the tradition of Refugee Week continue. It should not be ignored as long as the number of displaced people around the world continues to rise.
