Syrian refugees arrive in United Kingdom

Refugees will have access to rights, benefits and U.K. labour market.

Syrian refugees arrive in United Kingdom
The U.K. announced on Tuesday that it has received a first group of refugees under a new program, who are fleeing the bloody conflict in Syria, the country’s Home Office said. The Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPR) was announced by U.K. Home Secretary, Theresa May, in January. 

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: “I am pleased to confirm that the first group of Syrians have now arrived in the UK."

“We believe this VPR scheme will make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable Syrians by giving them protection and support in the UK.”

Refugees admitted under this scheme will be given five years’ “humanitarian protection”. According to the U.K. government this will give refugees rights and benefits as well as access to the labour market. Not all local authorities have signed up to the scheme and the government said that discussions were still “ongoing”.

UNHCR representative to the U.K. Roland Schilling said: “We welcome the UK’s contribution as these are critical and life-saving interventions for refugees with urgent protection needs and compelling vulnerabilities.”

“Humanitarian admissions and resettlement are part of our protection strategy for Syrian refugees. As much as they provide solutions for vulnerable individuals and families, these efforts are also a concrete gesture of solidarity and burden sharing with countries in the region currently hosting more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees,” he added.

The U.K. government has not given the exact number of refugees who will come to Britain, saying only that the scheme is designed to “focus on need rather than to satisfy a quota” but added that “it will support several hundred people over the next three years”.

The next group of refugees is set to arrive in April. Since the beginning of the conflict, the U.K. has received around 3,800 Syrian asylum seekers.
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