CAFOD: 'UK should accept more vulnerable Syrians'

Refugee camp in Lebanon

As the first Syrian refugees arrive in the UK, CAFOD is calling for the government to offer a place of safety to more of those who are most in need.

The first ten to twenty Syrian refugees are expected to arrive in Britain this week as part of the government’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme. But, with the crisis in Syria growing worse by the day, CAFOD argues that the UK should be prepared to accept more of the most vulnerable people fleeing the violence.

Anne Street, CAFOD’s Head of Humanitarian Policy, says: “In January, CAFOD was one of a number of aid agencies that helped persuade the government to accept a few hundred Syrians who are particularly at risk, including women and children at risk of sexual violence, older people and disabled people.

“We welcomed that decision, but – as the situation continues to deteriorate – we’d like to see the government be bold and ambitious in accepting more of the most vulnerable refugees. I’ve met Syrian refugees in Lebanon who’ve endured unimaginable horrors, and who are still struggling to survive. In the UK, we’re in the position to offer expert medical and psychological support to some of them, and we should respond according to the need.

“The war is forcing a staggering 9,500 Syrians from their homes every day – that’s one family every minute. The people of Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq are showing enormous compassion in welcoming people as they flee across the border, but the sheer number of new arrivals is overwhelming.

“It would be catastrophic if these countries closed their borders to people fleeing the conflict, and it’s important that we give them all the support we can. This is the greatest humanitarian crisis of the 21st century, and we all have a shared responsibility to help those most at risk. We must show solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are bearing the brunt of this catastrophe.”

The United Nations estimates that more than 2.5 million people have fled from Syria, but – with some refugees unwilling or unable to register – the true number may be far higher. Many refugees are living in crowded camps, in derelict or half-built buildings, in cowsheds or even in the open air. The influx of refugees is putting a severe strain on neighbouring countries, and has helped to fuel sectarian violence in Lebanon and Iraq.

CAFOD is continuing to support local Church partners within Syria, as well as in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, providing food, shelter, healthcare and medical supplies to those most in need. The agency’s Syria Crisis campaign has raised more than £2.5 million.