Syrian refugees at Domiz camp, Iraqi Kurdistan. Photograph by Jodi Hilton/IRIN
Prime minister David Cameron has said that the UK will act with the “greatest urgency” to offer the most needy Syrian refugees a “home in our country”.
The government had faced criticism from MPs of all parties for not joining the UNHCR scheme, which has seen Germany welcome 10,000 Syrian refugees, France welcome 500, but Home Secretary Theresa May said a new UK resettlement programme will run in parallel with UNHCR scheme and has backing from the group. The UNHCR has said that they will identify the most vulnerable people.
The government has not set a specific target for the number of Syrian refugees to be offered temporary three-year British visas, but Cameron has said he wanted to particularly help the victims of sexual violence, whilst deputy prime minister Nick Clegg added that helping torture victims, elderly, and disabled people would also be a priority.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said that the UK should be working within the UNHCR scheme rather than setting up a parallel operation, but the “big reversal” of government policy to now offer some Syrians refugee status is “compassion and common sense” winning through.
Cameron reiterated that the UK is already the second largest humanitarian donor in the Syrian crisis, and has already made available £600 million to provide food, clean water, and medical consultations for hundreds of thousands of refugees.
Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said in a statement:
“This move is long overdue but of course it’s never too late to do the right thing.”
1 Comment
Hi,
Cameron: UK to act with “greatest urgency” to help Syrian refugees. The “pump to water in the river” Mr. Cameron was the last of the international community to react. In booking aid as relief help he tried to “worm-out” of his obligations and in doing so damaged Britain’s humanitarian reputation.