Amid global crises in Ukraine and Afghanistan, both Canada and the UK opened their doors to refugees fleeing conflict. However, a recent study conducted by researchers from Dalhousie University and the University of Oxford sheds light on the challenges faced by these displaced populations upon arrival in their new host countries.
The study, titled A Tale of Two Contexts: The Ukrainian and Afghan Refugee Crises in Canada and the UK, aimed to scrutinize the reception of Ukrainian and Afghan refugees, delving into their categorization as deserving or undeserving of state protection. Spanning from May 2021 to May 2023, the research examined scholarly literature to understand public perceptions and the reception of these refugees in both nations.
Statistics revealed staggering disparities: Canada welcomed nearly 199,000 Ukrainians and approximately 40,500 Afghans, while the UK admitted around 262,000 Ukrainians and 21,500 Afghans. Despite these figures, both countries’ reception rates remained below four percent of the total refugee population, comprising 6.29 million Ukrainians and 1.6 million Afghans.
Dr. Raluca Bejan, an assistant professor at Dal’s School of Social Work and one of the researchers involved in the study, emphasized that domestic political interests significantly shaped the rights, resources, and prospects for these refugees within their host nations. This patchwork approach resulted in varying benefits and disadvantages for each group, ultimately leading to an inadequate reception in both countries.
The research highlighted key disparities in settlement pathways: while both Ukrainians and Afghans with prior connections to the host countries could secure permanent residence, Afghans faced more obstacles in qualifying for entry compared to Ukrainians. Moreover, immediate access to permanent residency was more limited for Ukrainians than for Afghans.
Dr. Bejan, available for discussions on the research funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, emphasized the role of multiple factors—race, gender, class, and national interests—in determining the perceived “deservingness” of refugee groups.
This comprehensive study not only underscores the challenges faced by Ukrainian and Afghan refugees in their reception but also calls attention to the need for more equitable and consistent policies in facilitating the settlement and integration of displaced populations worldwide.
