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UK Minister for Syrian Refugees says there is “much more work ahead” (12 October 2015)

Date: 12/10/2015
Duncan Lewis, Immigration Solicitors, UK Minister for Syrian Refugees says there is “much more work ahead”

The UK’s new Minister for Syrian Refugees, Richard Harrington, has visited some of the migrants who have been given sanctuary in the UK, to see how coming here has changed their lives.

Mr Harrington visited Bradford to meet a group of Syrian families – and to speak to those who are helping them to settle in the community.

The families are among more than 5,000 people who have been given refuge in Britain since the conflict in Syria began.

The government has announced that it will bring a further 20,000 of the most vulnerable Syrians to the UK from the refugee camps set up for those fleeing violence in Syria.

Mr Harrington was appointed as the Minister for Syrian Refugees in September to co-ordinate the resettlement operation.

After visiting the families who have been allowed to come to the UK, he said:

“We want to bring the refugees from Syria here as quickly as possible – but we have to make sure we get it right for them.

“I have spoken to those who are delivering the scheme on the front line. They spoke candidly about what has worked well, where things could be improved and what pressures they will face as the scheme grows – be it in school places, healthcare or housing.

“Their experiences will be critical to the success of the scheme as it expands.

“I have also spent time with families who are now starting a new life in the UK.

“Listening to the stories of their journeys, their ordeal in the camps and how Britain has helped them start again, I was deeply proud of what we have already achieved.

“But we have much more work ahead,” he added.

The government has set up a new Organised Immigration Crime Task Force to work with other EU member states to tackle the people trafficking gangs preying on the vulnerable refugees, by claiming to offer them the route to a new life in the EU.

Mr Harrington said his first priority would be to increase the number of arrivals via the government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement (VPR) scheme, by working with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify those most in need in refugee camps.

Many have been injured or suffered psychological trauma – while others will need wider health or social care support, say the government.
UNHCR staff will provide support on the ground and offer the UK government an expert view on those who most need assistance.

The UK has provided more than £1.1 billion in humanitarian aid to support those who have fled the Syrian conflict – more than any other country in the world, except the United States.

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