Students on the streets to back refugees

STUDENTS at Edinburgh University are to sleep rough tonight to raise awareness of the struggle faced by asylum seekers.

Members of the university's Amnesty International Society are calling on the UK government to provide continued financial support, accommodation, health care and education to people who are refused asylum.

Kate Armstrong, president of the University of Edinburgh Amnesty International Society, said: "It is estimated that 280,000 refused asylum seekers live in destitution in the UK.

"Through no fault of their own, their human rights are being violated by our government. This needs to end. The 'Still Human, Still Here' campaign calls the government to action, demanding an end is put to the appalling treatment asylum seekers in this country must endure."

The students will sleep rough from 11pm tonight until 7am tomorrow morning.