UK asylum to be granted to Darfur survivors

New immigration rules will see asylum seekers from the crisis in Darfur granted refuge in the UK.

Under old restrictions, non-Arab Darfuris would not be afforded asylum in Britain because the situation at home was not considered life threatening. Now The Home Office has decided that Darfur survivors would face a real risk of persecution if they were deported. Statistics from The Home Office show that there were 50 repatriations of Darfuris this year between April and June alone.

Aegis Trust, the human rights group who investigated five repatriated Darfuris who were denied asylum in the UK, found that they had been tortured on their return to Khartoum.

The UK Border Agency will still consider claims on their merits but will from this point onwards be offering potential protection. Head of Immigration for the UKBA Matthew Coats said the changes showed that the UK government took international responsibilities with seriousness and would be granting protection to those from Darfur and Sudan itself when and if needed.

The Darfur Union campaign group welcomed the changes which they claim will allow many members to start rebuilding their lives after years in limbo. The UN has estimated that close to 300,000 people have perished in the Darfur conflict. Millions of people also left their homes in the face of continued violence.

According to outgoing military commander General Martin Agwai the conflict was effectively ended in August with the region now dealing with banditry and isolated attacks.