本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw
Refugees in the UK 英國難民政策：從置身事外到敞開門戶 撰文及考題設計 British Council 英協教育中心 Melissa Henry 中譯 陳怡君 （中央社編譯）
“T
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「自二次世界大戰以來最嚴重的難民危機」─
he worst refugee crisis since World War
這是媒體所描述目前歐洲面臨的尋求庇護潮。去
II.” That is what the media is calling the
年約5,000萬人逃離家鄉，大多是戰爭所迫。因此
current diaspora of asylum seekers that Europe is
英國和許多歐洲國家一樣，為尋求庇護者敞開大
experiencing. Approximately 50 million people fled
門，讓他們有機會逃離戰火蹂躪的國家。
their homes last year, most due to war. As a result,
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the UK, like many other European nations, has
When people first flee their homeland, they are
opened their doors for asylum seekers, giving them
classified as an asylum seeker. Asylum seekers
an opportunity to escape their war-torn nation.
report themselves once arriving in a foreign country
英國女星綺拉奈特莉（Keira Knightley ）（左）2014年曾隨 樂施會（Oxfam）組織至南蘇丹 Jonglei省的Bor難民營探訪因內戰 而流離失所的難民。（歐新社）
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and wait for approval of refugee status. In the UK, asylum seekers are provided temporary housing, can
With increasing pressure to help those who were
apply to receive a small amount of financial support
f leeing, in June 2015, European nations decided
of £5.28 a day, but do not have the right to work.
to share the burden of the massive increase of
Once given refugee status, refugees in the UK have
asylum seekers, the majority originating from
the right to work and receive public funds. After five
Syria, followed by Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan,
years, they can then apply for permanent settlement
and South Sudan. While initially opting out of this
if they wish.
humanitarian effort, the UK has now been granting
當人們逃離家園時，會被歸類為尋求庇護者。
asylum for thousands of seekers and has committed
他們來到外國後先登記，等待難民身分核可。英國
£1.1 billion to this cause. Prime Minister David
政府會提供尋求庇護者暫時住宅，以及一天5.28
Cameron promised to bring 1,000 Syrian asylum
英鎊（約新台幣257元）的小額援助，但還是沒有
se eke r s t o t he U K by C h r ist m a s , wh ich he
工作權。一旦他們獲得當局核可的難民身分，就擁
succeeded in doing. Now the UK has their eyes set
有工作權與獲得公共福利金，五年後，可依意願申
on aiding 20,000 Syrians over a five-year period.
請永久居留。
隨著協助難民的壓力不斷上升，2015年6月，歐
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洲各國決定分擔尋求庇護者大量增加的重擔，這
Before 2015, most people were not awa re
些難民主要來自敘利亞，其次是阿富汗、索馬利
of a sylu m seeke r s or ref ugees, be cau se t he
亞、蘇丹與南蘇丹。儘管一開始不願插手難民事
media typically did not shine light on the issue.
務，英國如今已為數千名難民提供庇護與挹注11
Throughout 2015, however, the media has exposed
億英鎊（約新台幣535億元）經費。英國首相卡麥
the dangerous journeys asylum seekers take to
隆曾承諾要在耶誕節前接納1,000名敘利亞人，而
arrive in other lands; for example, traveling over
他也真的實踐諾言。如今英國設下要在未來五年
sea in a small, unstable boat or on bike through
援助2萬名敘利亞人的目標。
cold European lands. In September, the tragic
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photograph of a drowned 3-year old Syrian boy on a
To help in this effort, the UK has established a
Turkish beach went viral, showing the harsh reality
Vulnerable Person Relocation (VPR) programme
of what asylum seekers endure to evade war.
to help Syrians obtain 'Humanitarian Protection'.
在2015年以前，大多數人不會注意到尋求庇護
'Humanitarian Protection' is for people who do
者或難民，因為媒體一般而言不會特別關注報導
not legally fit the definition of 'refugee' but need
這個議題。然而2015年一整年，媒體開始揭露尋
international protection because of the threat of
求庇護者到達其他國家的危險旅程，像是搭乘小
death, torture, or an armed conflict. Persons with
型不穩的船筏、騎單車穿越寒冷的歐洲大陸。9月
'Humanitarian Protection' will still have the right
時，一名3歲敘利亞男童伏屍土耳其海灘的悲劇照
to work and receive public funds under this new
片被廣為分享，顯示尋求庇護者為逃離戰火而必
scheme. After five years, they can then apply for
須承受的艱困現實。
permanent settlement in the UK.
全球中央雜誌 2016.03
本文由BRITISH COUNCIL–全球最值得信賴的英語 教學機構–提供，網址：www.britishcouncil.org.tw
從俄羅斯北部邊界進入北歐國家是另一 條難民逃難路線，俄羅斯禁止行人進入 邊界，迫使難民購買腳踏車前往。圖為 去年11月一名難民推著腳踏車與行李經 過俄羅斯與挪威的邊界。（歐新社）
為達成這項目標，英國成立「弱勢人士重安置」
education, housing, food, help with finding work,
（VPR）計畫來協助敘利亞人獲得「人道保護」。
or any other necessity to live in 2016. All in all,
「人道保護」是提供給不符合難民資格、卻因為面
although not ideal, the call for action to aid refugees
臨死亡、虐待或武裝衝突威脅而需要國際保護的
is being answered, but there is still more work to be
人。在這項新計畫下，具「人道保護」身分的人仍有
done for the future.
工作權和取得公共福利金，五年後也能申請永久 居留。
即使有了政 府協助，難 民逃離 家園時幾乎身 無長物，並 且只獲得最低援助來 幫助他們展開
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新生活。因此，像是英國紅十字會或樂施會等協
Even with government aid, refugees f lee with
助難民的組 織，引發民眾關注支 持並且成功 協
very little belongings and are given a minimum
助難民安置，這包括教育、住宅、糧食與協助就
to start their lives over. Therefore, organizations
業 等，或任 何其他 生活在現今 2016 年必要面對
that help refugees, such as the British Red Cross or
的問題。總而言之，儘管未盡理想，但採取行動
Oxfam, have raised awareness to support and aid
協助難 民的呼聲有了回應，未來還有 許多事 項
the refugees successfully resettle. This has involved
等著完成。
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Key Words refugee – 難民 a person whose asylum application has been accepted by the government because they have proven that if they return to their homeland, they are at risk diaspora – 大遷徙 the spread of any people from their original homeland asylum seeker – 尋求庇護者 a person who leaves her homeland, arrives in another country, and applies to stay in the country shine light on – 揭露 to help people learn or understand a situation
雅思考試粉絲團： www.facebook.com/ielts.testcentre
go viral – 變得非常熱門，特別是在網路上 become very popular by going from person to another, especially through the Internet opt out – 決定不參加 choose not to participate in something humanitarian – 人道的 concerned with human welfare has their eyes set on – 設定目標 make a goal fit the definition – 符合分類 fall into the category raise awareness – 更加了解、喚起注意 have more knowledge about a topic
雅思考試模擬試題 IELTS questions
Do the following statements agree with the information given? Write: TRUE if the statement agrees with the information FALSE if the statement contradicts the information NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this 1. The current refugee situation is the worst the world has seen in seven decades. 2. Syrians now make up the most asylum seekers in the UK. 3. The UK government is receiving and processing Syrian asylum applications. 4. Asylum seekers and refugees are terms with the same meaning. 5. Although originally not willing, the UK is now accepting Syrian asylum seekers. Answers:
1. True
2. Not Given
3. False
4. False
5. True
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. 1. The majority of Syrians are leaving Syria to escape the current __________. 2. Organizations such as the British Red Cross and Oxfam attempt to __________ refugees in the UK. 3. After receiving refugee status in the UK, refugees can __________ whereas they cannot while they are waiting to change status. 4. __________ is given to asylum seekers in the UK, but it only amounts to £5.28 a day. 5. A large of people moving from one country to another is referred to as __________. 1. war
2. help/aid
3. work
4. Funding
5. diaspora 全球中央雜誌 2016.03
Answers:
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