VARIOUS/FILE: Britain announces it will take in hundreds of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, including rape and torture victims

Record ID: 274491

  • Title: VARIOUS/FILE: Britain announces it will take in hundreds of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, including rape and torture victims
  • Date: 29th January 2014
  • Summary: NEAR HER TENT ATMA, SYRIA (FILE - JANUARY 12, 2013) (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ATMA REFUGEE CAMP ON A HILLSIDE IN THE DISTANCE REFUGEES WALKING BETWEEN TENTS IN THE CAMP TENTS IN THE CAMP WOMAN AND TWO CHILDREN WALKING OUT OF TENT WOMAN GIVING CHILD WATER TO DRINK FROM A BOWL VARIOUS OF WOMEN WASHING ITEMS IN BUCKETS AND BOWL OUTDOORS VARIOUS OF WOMEN STANDING
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Lebanon, United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: Lebanon United Kingdom
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,People
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZXZLUAAEPBL6TNPT0GRMQ4LI
  • Story Text: Britain on Wednesday (January 29) softened a government stance and announced it will launch a programme that will take in hundreds of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, including rape and torture victims.
    In an address to parliament, Home Secretary Theresa May reiterated Prime Minister David Cameron's assessment of the situation in Syria as the "greatest refugee crisis of our time."

    "More than 100,000 people have been killed and the credible reports of systematic use of torture and starvation are simply sickening. Millions of innocent people have fled their homes. There are now more than 11 million Syrians in desperate need, including 6 and a half million people displaced inside Syria and more than 2.3 million refugees in neighbouring countries - at least half of them children. The numbers are staggering and the scale of the crisis is immense," May said.
    May outlined the programme to the parliament which included members of the opposition party which had earlier criticised the government for not joining the U.N scheme, and falling into line with other participating Western states like France and Germany.
    May said the government had been given United Nations backing to accept Syrian refugees on a case-by-case basis, but was stopping short of agreeing to take in a quota under a U.N. scheme to resettle 30,000 of the most vulnerable cases.

    "This programme, the Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme will be based on three principles. First, we are determined to ensure that our assistance is targeted where it can have the most impact on the refugees at greatest risk. The programme will focus on individual cases where evacuation from the region is the only option. In particular we will prioritise help for survivors of torture and violence, and women and children at risk or in need of medical care who are recommended to us for relocation by UNHCR. This is where we believe we can make a distinctive contribution as the United Kingdom," said May, who added that there was still no date as to when the first refugees will arrive in the country.
    May said said the government would focus on resettling women and girls who have experienced, or are at risk of, sexual violence. The elderly, survivors of torture and individuals with disabilities would also be treated as priority cases.
    Britain says it is the second largest donor of humanitarian aid to Syria, providing 600 million pounds ($995.07 million) to date.
    In the last year it has accepted around 1,500 Syrian asylum seekers who had made their way to Britain, but had previously resisted taking in refugees direct from the region.
    In her address, May said the ultimate goal was to reach a peaceful political solution to end the crisis in Syria.

    "Our goal is a peaceful settlement that enables a political transition and an end to the violence in Syria. That is the only way to create the conditions for all Syrian refugees to do what they most want to do - return to their homes and livelihood in peace," May said.
    Talks aimed at ending the war in Syria took a first tentative step forward on Wednesday as the government and opposition agreed to use the same document as the basis of discussions, although they disagreed about how the negotiations should proceed.
    Both sides said they agreed to use the "Geneva communique", a document agreed at a previous international conference in Geneva in June 2012, and which sets out the stages needed for an end to the fighting and a political transition.
    Syria's conflict began as popular protests almost three years ago, but a fierce crackdown transformed them into armed revolt. Now, the country has collapsed into a bloody civil war that has killed more than 130,000 people and forced over 6 million from their homes.
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