Panjabi Immigrants In Ceuta, Spain

[KHALSA AID]

Following the broadcast of the "Sikhs in Distress " program on the Sikh Channel tonight ( Dec 25th ) Khalsa Aid has had a few calls regarding offering assistance to the Panjabi immigrants in Ceuta, Spain.The Sikh Channel intially raised this issue in early November, following this intial program Khalsa Aid made contact with the Panjabi immigrants in Ceuta. We made an offer of providing humanitarian assistance in the form of food, blankets and medical assistance however this offer was declined. They clearly stated that they required political assistance to land them in Spain, unfortunately Khalsa Aid has no expertise in this area and so had no option but to withdraw.We hope that the Sikhs in Spain and the Indian government will be able to assist them as a matter of urgency.Our offer of humanitarian assistance remains open.We commend the Sikh Channel for raising this important issue.

Khalsa Aid

www.khalsaaid.org

[Matheen]

When you spoke to them, were they willing to go back to India? Also, if you have contact with them, maybe let them know that they may be able to claim asylum and at least start working (I'm assuming they've crossed the dividing fence between Morocco and Ceuta?)

Might be worth a trip down just to find out the actual situation.

More info here: http://www.worldpress.org/Europe/3371.cfm

[KHALSA AID]

When you spoke to them, were they willing to go back to India? Also, if you have contact with them, maybe let them know that they may be able to claim asylum and at least start working (I'm assuming they've crossed the dividing fence between Morocco and Ceuta?)

Might be worth a trip down just to find out the actual situation.

More info here: http://www.worldpres...Europe/3371.cfm

No, they didnt want to go back to India. They informed us that they that they had financial constraints and had either used their entire savings or borrowed heavily.The link Matheen has provided explains the issues the illegal immigrants on Ceuta are facing.

Ceuta is not classified as European soil. There are many NGOs in Ceuta providing vital relief etc, we will always be on standby if there is any humanitarian needs for these guys.

".. Recently, the Spanish authorities are really restrictive," says Mr. Cardín. "Only 10 percent can obtain the visa and generally these are really extreme cases, as for Iraqi or Kurdish refugees, victims of sexual and religious discrimination, or people needing deep medical treatments not available in their own country. For the others, only repatriation remains."...

... " After the Indian ambassadress visited the city in 2007," says Gurpreet, spokesman for the "rebels," "the situation became ever worse; almost 50 percent of us were repatriated immediately. Thus, as sign of protest, we decide to take shelter to the forest. We hoped to come to the attention of the community, but, as you can see, after one year, we are still here....

[Hoshiarpuria]

When you spoke to them, were they willing to go back to India? Also, if you have contact with them, maybe let them know that they may be able to claim asylum and at least start working (I'm assuming they've crossed the dividing fence between Morocco and Ceuta?)

Might be worth a trip down just to find out the actual situation.

More info here: http://www.worldpres...Europe/3371.cfm

No, they didnt want to go back to India. They informed us that they that they had financial constraints and had either used their entire savings or borrowed heavily.The link Matheen has provided explains the issues the illegal immigrants on Ceuta are facing.

Ceuta is not classified as European soil. There are many NGOs in Ceuta providing vital relief etc, we will always be on standby if there is any humanitarian needs for these guys.

".. Recently, the Spanish authorities are really restrictive," says Mr. Cardín. "Only 10 percent can obtain the visa and generally these are really extreme cases, as for Iraqi or Kurdish refugees, victims of sexual and religious discrimination, or people needing deep medical treatments not available in their own country. For the others, only repatriation remains."...

... " After the Indian ambassadress visited the city in 2007," says Gurpreet, spokesman for the "rebels," "the situation became ever worse; almost 50 percent of us were repatriated immediately. Thus, as sign of protest, we decide to take shelter to the forest. We hoped to come to the attention of the community, but, as you can see, after one year, we are still here....

Why didnt the Sikh Channel mention that these guys were approached by Khalsa Aid ? Were the Sikh Channel aware of the approach ?