Is the UK Facing a Humanitarian Crisis?

By Jess Woodburn (Human Rights Correspondent)

Edited by Ena Saracevic (Social Affairs Editor)

A humanitarian crisis is defined as a singular event or series of events threatening the health, safety and well-being of a large group of people. A large proportion of events have occurred in the UK which has hinted the UK Government is moving towards a totalitarian system where our health, safety, and well-being as well as our freedoms are all under threat.

The usage of foodbanks is skyrocketing, the Human Rights Act is being replaced, and the NHS has been drastically underfunded by a decade of government neglect. All of which have contributed to this terrifying crisis.

British Bill of Rights

A Bill of Rights is currently moving through Parliament to replace the Human Rights Act. This bill is very lengthy and contains several sections which threaten our rights outlined in the ECHR (European Convention of Human Rights), as well as those outlined in the original Human Rights Document.

Section 20 of this bill outlines limits to the UK Supreme Court's power to allow appeals against deportation in respect to a foreign criminal. This, therefore, reduces the power of individuals to assert their rights and increases the amount of unchecked power from the Government. This section does not just relate to individuals who have committed crimes of a violent nature; the Government could deport any foreign individual, with a conviction, simply because they wish to, even if the individual in question has committed a crime such as petty theft perhaps even years ago.

Under Section 4 of the bill, freedom of speech will no longer apply to a vast amount of people. Those in criminal proceedings, to the question of determining whether a person is entitled to enter or remain in the UK or a person’s citizenship. As well as, to the question debating whether a provision of primary or subordinate legislation, that creates a criminal offence, is incompatible with a convention right. This could apply to fundamental rights such as Article 2, the right to life. This section speaks the tone for the rest of this inexcusable bill.

These are only two sections out of the British Bill of Rights which the Conservative Government is attempting to push through Parliament under the radar. This could push the UK further towards a possible humanitarian crisis, as the Government is reducing their accountability to other bodies such as the Supreme Court. This means they can push through legislation or enforce their ideologies affecting our well-being and safety. Especially when those being prosecuted, in criminal proceedings, are no longer entitled to their freedom of speech.

Foodbanks

In the past year, food banks across the UK have provided 2.1 million food parcels to various people in need. This is a 14% increase from last year's figures. The charity is facing an accelerating crisis as the need for emergency food has dramatically increased in the past six months. More than 830,000 parcels have been delivered to children, a 15% increase from 2019/2020. People are struggling to afford the bare minimum of essentials; struggling to eat, stay warm, dry, and clean. All of these figures are set to increase with the rising cost-of-living crisis.

Does this suggest a humanitarian crisis? Surely this is a threat to a large group of people’s health and safety? And yet, the Government has done the bare minimum when families, and individuals, are struggling up and down the country due to our Government's failings.

After the Labour party put forth a motion calling for an extension of free school meals to feed children during lockdown in a global pandemic, a vast number of Conservative MPs voted against the motion. For many children, their free school meal is the one hot meal they have each day, and for some, perhaps this is their only meal. And yet the Conservatives voted against this?

NHS and the Cost-of-living Crisis

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, has said that the mounting cost-of-living crisis is already having a huge impact on the lives of thousands of the most vulnerable people in our society. Cold homes are linked to pneumonia and other respiratory diseases, as well as 10,000 deaths a year with one in three families having to choose between food and heating their homes. Are deaths now going to increase due to the cost-of-living crisis? Age UK has said that thousands of pensioners could die as they struggle to heat their homes.

Dr Amir, a General Practitioner, has said that people cannot afford life-saving prescriptions, such as inhalers; blood pressure and diabetes medicine. People are now having to sacrifice their health, life, and well-being due to the current cost-of-living crisis.

The NHS has been insufficiently funded for over a decade under Conservative leadership. On top of this, the annual inflation rate was 12.7% in July 2022, the fastest rate in 30 years. This is as well as fuel, energy, and food costs are increasing - the NHS will be hugely impacted. They are already struggling to function with a reduced capacity with over 100,000 vacancies; but, also, due to cold homes, NHS staff are falling sick.

Are we facing a humanitarian crisis?

With our rights being stripped further, foodbank usage at an all-time high, and people not being able to afford life-saving prescriptions, as well as illness occurring from cold homes; do you think we are facing a humanitarian crisis? After all, our well-being, health and safety are all being threatened; partly due to the cost-of-living crisis, but also down to government austerity, neglect and abandonment.