Refugee vs Asylum Seeker
In today’s world, the terms refugee and asylum seeker have become increasingly significant due to widespread discrimination and ongoing civil wars in many countries. When individuals are targeted in their home countries due to religion, political views, nationality, race, or skin color, they often have no choice but to seek shelter in a neighboring country or elsewhere. These people are referred to as asylum seekers in the country where they are seeking protection. They are called this until they are certified as refugees and granted asylum by their host country. This massive humanitarian issue affects nearly every part of the world.
Key Takeaways
- Asylum seekers are individuals who flee from their home country because they fear persecution if they return.
- Refugees are individuals who have been granted asylum by a host country after their claims of persecution have been evaluated and found to be valid.
- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is responsible for protecting and settling asylum seekers and has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize twice for their work.
According to conventions of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN agency for refugees worldwide, all individuals who have well-founded fears of being persecuted in their home country for any of the aforementioned reasons are the responsibility of the UNHCR. The UNHCR undertakes to protect and assist in their settlement, repatriation, or relocation to a third country. The UNHCR has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize twice, in 1954 and 1981, for its significant and noble work.
People often remain confused between asylum seekers and refugees. All those who flee their home countries due to well-founded fears are referred to as asylum seekers in the country they move to. Although these individuals may call themselves refugees, they are not granted refugee status until their claims are evaluated and found to be valid. Different countries have their own asylum systems in place to decide on the claims of asylum seekers. If the claim is valid, asylum seekers become refugees and are granted all human rights. They also qualify for international protection. However, if an asylum seeker’s claim is not found to be justified, they do not become refugees and are sent back to their home country.
In normal circumstances, when there are few asylum seekers, each person can be personally interviewed to determine the legitimacy of their claim. However, when large numbers of people flee from a war-torn country or a country facing a natural disaster, it is clear that their claims are justified, and such groups are collectively granted refugee status.
In summary, asylum seekers and refugees have become a necessary part of modern times because of rampant discrimination, wars, and other natural calamities. The UNHCR, an agency of the UN for refugees, has been doing a commendable job in the settlement, repatriation, and relocation to third countries of millions of asylum seekers in all parts of the world each year.
