Celebrities and Organizations Supporting the Albanian Migrant Crisis

LONDON, United Kingdom — U.K. net migration hit its highest number in 2022 — reaching 606,000 (Office for National Statistics). This is an increase of 118,000 from 2021. The U.K. migrant crisis has increased due to the ongoing intake of Albanian asylum seekers. Many of these immigration applicants and dependents were of refugee status — 89,000 coming from countries like Albania. Moreover, 45% of these asylum seekers arrive on the U.K. shoreline on small boats — with only 4% of applicants receiving a decision on their status.

Why Albanians are Fleeing Their Homeland

Albanians are leaving their country and making the United Kingdom their new home because of the quality of life in their homeland. 89,000 migrants fled to the U.K. in 2022 — 31,965 of these being Albanian. The arrivals from Albania comprise a large and diverse group of people. There are economic migrants seeking employment and others escaping trafficking.

Pop Culture’s Involvement and Influence

Many celebrities have previously spoken out about the ongoing global refugee crisis. Their involvement in charitable and social matters provides great coverage for impoverished people, like the Albanian refugees.  When discussing issues like the Albanian migrant crisis, those in popular culture act as a positive influence on a large audience. English-Albanian pop star Dua Lipa has come out against ministers’ approach to the U.K. migrant crisis, stating that “No matter how we try and change the rhetoric, there will always be those who think immigrants are coming into the country and taking jobs.” Lipa was born in London to Albanian parents who fled pre-war tensions in Kosovo in the early 1990s. As a daughter of immigrants, she recognizes the hardships of those settling in a new country.

Lipa stated that “there needs to be more empathy because people don’t leave their country unless they have to out of necessity, out of fear for their family.” Dua Lipa’s voice is an influential commentary that works to support and promote the safety of refugees. This is an underrated stepping stone to aiding the poverty that those in the migrant crisis face and are fleeing to escape. Her influence is prevalent as her statement made headlines across major media scapes like The Guardian, The Independent, Sky News and Metro. These media outlets reach over 73 million monthly readers.

Supporting Organizations

British organizations International Rescue Committee and Migrant Help provide online and in-person support to asylum seekers coming to the U.K. Their websites and meetings guide refugees on the steps to receive a positive application outcome. They also answer questions about settling in the U.K. that may be had.

Shpresa is another program that provides assistance on settlement in the UK. Their work allows Albanian refugees to find employment, education and a community in Britain specifically. This program allows Albanian refugees to rebuild a life of quality after seeking asylum. These programs mean that Albanian refugees are able to educate themselves on their immigration rights. The organizations are also helping to arrange employment for the refugees.

Existing Hope In A New Home

The Albanian Refugee crisis is backed by positive voices in the U.K. to aid their strife upon seeking asylum. The youth of today are influenced by the politics discussed in popular culture and through online resources. As young people listen to both the music and words of pop stars, their attention put toward the asylum seekers is bringing awareness to their strife. This is a supporting sector that can aid asylum seekers’ hardship upon arrival to a new country. It is the popular media that put out messages of support to give a voice to those in the U.K. migrant crisis. Programs are also taking on Albanian refugees’ troubles and providing assistance to their settlement in the U.K.

– Anastasia Brown
Photo: Wikimedia Commons