Sarah co-hosts Jesuit Refugee Service event in the European Parliament (Slough Liberal Democrats)

Slough Liberal Democrats <johanney@hotmail.com>

Sarah co-hosts Jesuit Refugee Service event in the European Parliament

October 15, 2009 4:03 AM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

On Wednesday 7 October Sarah co-hosted with fellow London MEP Jean Lambert a reception on behalf of the Jesuit Refugee Service. The JRS is an international Catholic NGO that assists asylum seekers from when they first arrive. Three refugees, one now settled in the UK and two in Malta, attended the event and told their personal stories. The group agreed that Europe should not allow asylum seekers to be left destitute as long as they are lawfully pursuing their claims, as is too often the case. They are usually banned from legal work and are therefore unable to support themselves, and with inadequate benefits they are driven either to charity or illegal work in order to survive.

Sarah commented: "Although commendable and apparently necessary, it is a matter of shame that voluntary organisations like JRS have had to resort to the distribution of food parcels in the UK."