The Somali community in the UK: What we know and how we ... - ICAR

Table of contents
Foreword 4
Introduction 6
The Somali community in the UK 6
Plan of the report 8
Part I: The invisible community?
How we know what we know about Somalis
in the UK 10
Sources of information about Somalis
in the UK 10
The focus of research 11
The quantity of Somali research 12
The significance of type of research for
knowledge about Somalis in the UK 13
The search for the ‘Somali voice’ 14
Somalis as researchers 15
Methodological problems 16
Part II: The Somali diaspora in
the United Kingdom 18
Map of Somalia 18
Historical background 18
The regime of Siad Barre 1969-1990 19
Continued conflict: 1990-2003 20
Migration of Somalis to the United Kingdom 22
Stages of settlement 22
Entry into the UK 25
Somali asylum claims in the UK 25
Determination of Somali
asylum applications 25
Decisions on Somali asylum
applications and rates of refusal 28
Exceptional leave to remain (ELR),
humanitarian protection (HP), and
discretionary leave (DL) 28
Refusal of Somali asylum applications 28
Non-compliance 29
‘Third country’ cases 29
Appeals 29
Return of failed asylum seekers 30
Detention 30
Resettlement 30
Family reunion 30
Concluding remarks 31
Number of Somalis in the UK 32
Employment 39
Education 43
Youth 48
Cultural conflict 50
Health 53
Mental health 54
Khat 58
Women and gender roles 59
Gender roles - conflict and change 62
Female genital mutilation (FGM) 65
Self-help and fragmentation: RCOs and the
politics of clan 66
Conclusion 71
Publications 72
Somali diaspora in the UK 72
Audio-visual 78
Tables and figures
Table A: Classification of sources 11
Table B: Subject matter of reports 11
Figure A: Asylum applications received from
Somali nationals, 1998-2003 25
Figure B: Number of initial decisions on Somali
asylum applications, 1988-2003 27
Figure C: Initial decisions on Somali asylum
applications, 1988-2003 27
Table C: Snapshot of Somali detainees 30
Table D: Ten largest Somali refugee populations
at end of 2002 31
Table E: Grants of settlement to Somalis 32
Table F: Estimates of Somali population
in the UK 33
Table G: Estimates of Somali population
in London 34
Figure D: Map of London boroughs 34
Table H: Estimates of Somali population
in London boroughs 35
Table I: Estimates of Somali population in
provincial cities 38
Table J: Achievement of Somali pupils in
Camden schools 44
The Somali community in the UK
3