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David Cameron: UK to accept 'thousands' more Syrian refugees David Cameron: UK to accept 'thousands' more Syrian refugees
(about 1 hour later)
The UK is to provide resettlement to "thousands" more Syrian refugees in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis, David Cameron has announced.The UK is to provide resettlement to "thousands" more Syrian refugees in response to the worsening humanitarian crisis, David Cameron has announced.
No specific figure has been decided but the prime minister said the extra refugees would come from camps bordering Syria, and not from among people already in Europe. No figure has been decided but the prime minister said the extra refugees would come from camps bordering Syria, not from among those already in Europe.
Britain, he said, would act with "head and heart" to help those most in need.Britain, he said, would act with "head and heart" to help those most in need.
The UN has said EU countries should accept up to 200,000 refugees. He also announced a further £100m in humanitarian aid for those in camps in Syria, Turkey, Jordan and the Lebanon.
Earlier this week, Mr Cameron said accepting more people was not the simple answer to the situation, described by some as the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two.Earlier this week, Mr Cameron said accepting more people was not the simple answer to the situation, described by some as the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two.
But speaking in Lisbon after talks with his Portuguese counterpart, Mr Cameron said the UK had a "moral responsibility" to help those displaced by the four-year conflict in Syria and more details would follow next week following discussions with organisations working in the region.But speaking in Lisbon after talks with his Portuguese counterpart, Mr Cameron said the UK had a "moral responsibility" to help those displaced by the four-year conflict in Syria and more details would follow next week following discussions with organisations working in the region.
'Deeply moved''Deeply moved'
Calls for the UK to take in more refugees have intensified after the publication of a picture of the body of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, washed up a Turkish beach.Calls for the UK to take in more refugees have intensified after the publication of a picture of the body of a drowned three-year-old Syrian boy, Alan Kurdi, washed up a Turkish beach.
Speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, the boy's aunt, Tima Kurdi, said his and his brother's death should be "a wake-up call for the whole world".Speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, the boy's aunt, Tima Kurdi, said his and his brother's death should be "a wake-up call for the whole world".
The government's approach to the crisis has continued to come under pressure from public and political figures, including:The government's approach to the crisis has continued to come under pressure from public and political figures, including:
AnalysisAnalysis
By deputy political editor James LandaleBy deputy political editor James Landale
The prime minister isn't changing his argument.The prime minister isn't changing his argument.
He still thinks opening up Europe's borders and agreeing quotas will not solve the refugee crisis. In fact, he thinks it would make it worse by increasing pull factors and encouraging people traffickers.He still thinks opening up Europe's borders and agreeing quotas will not solve the refugee crisis. In fact, he thinks it would make it worse by increasing pull factors and encouraging people traffickers.
But, as the crisis gets worse and the public and political pressure grows, the prime minister does now accept that Britain has a moral duty to do more.But, as the crisis gets worse and the public and political pressure grows, the prime minister does now accept that Britain has a moral duty to do more.
No targets have been agreed but his talk of taking thousands more is unlikely to satisfy his many critics who want Britain to take in tens of thousands of refugees and who have been outraged by his reluctance to act.No targets have been agreed but his talk of taking thousands more is unlikely to satisfy his many critics who want Britain to take in tens of thousands of refugees and who have been outraged by his reluctance to act.
Nearly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the last four years and the UK has accepted 216 Syrian refugees under a scheme to relocate the most vulnerable begun in early 2014.Nearly 5,000 Syrians have been granted asylum in the last four years and the UK has accepted 216 Syrian refugees under a scheme to relocate the most vulnerable begun in early 2014.
Addressing reporters in Lisbon, Mr Cameron said the £900m in British aid given to Syria, including food, aid and medical supplies, had stopped greater numbers from trying to reach Europe but said the UK would now go further in extending sanctuary to more refugees. Mr Cameron said "careful consideration" would be given to the numbers allowed into the UK, with the emphasis on those who had "lost hope and were genuinely fleeing persecution".
"Given the scale of the crisis and the suffering of the people, today I can announce that we will do more - providing resettlement for thousands more Syrian refugees. "This provides them with a more direct and safe route to the United Kingdom rather than risking the hazardous journey which has tragically cost so many of their lives," he said.
"We will continue with our approach of taking them from refugee camps. This provides them with a more direct and safe route to the United Kingdom rather than risking the hazardous journey which has tragically cost so many of their lives," he said. But Mr Cameron said this was only one response to the crisis and the UK's latest aid pledge - taking total humanitarian support to more than £1bn - was equally important.
The PM added: "Britain will act with our head and our heart, providing refugee for those in need while working on long-term solutions to this crisis."
How will plan work?How will plan work?
Mr Cameron's plan suggests he may expand the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme - though the Home Office said details were not yet available.Mr Cameron's plan suggests he may expand the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme - though the Home Office said details were not yet available.
Under VPR, 216 Syrians have been brought to the UK since March 2014. People arriving in the UK in need of protection usually have to apply for asylum - and if this is granted they get "refugee" status.Under VPR, 216 Syrians have been brought to the UK since March 2014. People arriving in the UK in need of protection usually have to apply for asylum - and if this is granted they get "refugee" status.
But people brought to Britain under VPR have not gone through this process. Instead, they have been granted Humanitarian Protection, a status normally used for people who "don't qualify for asylum" but would be at "real risk of suffering serious harm" in their home country.But people brought to Britain under VPR have not gone through this process. Instead, they have been granted Humanitarian Protection, a status normally used for people who "don't qualify for asylum" but would be at "real risk of suffering serious harm" in their home country.
Like people granted refugee status, those given Humanitarian Protection can stay for five years, after which they can apply to settle in the UK.Like people granted refugee status, those given Humanitarian Protection can stay for five years, after which they can apply to settle in the UK.
People in both categories have the right to work and access public funds.People in both categories have the right to work and access public funds.
In Hungary, a stand-off between police and migrants on a train is continuing into a second day. On Thursday, police let the migrants board the train in Budapest but then tried to force them off at a refugee camp to the west of the capital. Pressed for more details about how many people would be helped, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said there would be "no quotas", since such an approach could fuel people smuggling.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned that the plight of the refugees is "one of the most appalling and enormous crises the world has seen". "It's much smarter and safer to help them directly relocate from refugee camps," she told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.
The UN has said EU countries should accept up to 200,000 refugees.
As a stand-off between Hungarian police and migrants on a train continued into a second day, the Archbishop of Canterbury warned that the plight of the refugees is "one of the most appalling and enormous crises the world has seen".
"There has to be a short term response of compassion," Justin Welby said. "There has to be a long term strategy of tackling conflict. It is an absolute moral duty.""There has to be a short term response of compassion," Justin Welby said. "There has to be a long term strategy of tackling conflict. It is an absolute moral duty."
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's World at One, Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth said the UK should take in 10,000 refugees from the Middle East region, as well as 3,000 unaccompanied children that have already reached Europe's borders. Speaking to the World at One, Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth said the UK should take in 10,000 refugees from the Middle East region, as well as 3,000 unaccompanied children that have already reached Europe's borders.
But UKIP leader Nigel Farage warned that giving "incentives" risked a "stampede" of people trying to get to Europe. "I'm sorry to say that I think the shocking image that we saw of that young boy and the deaths in those lorries actually become more likely," he said.But UKIP leader Nigel Farage warned that giving "incentives" risked a "stampede" of people trying to get to Europe. "I'm sorry to say that I think the shocking image that we saw of that young boy and the deaths in those lorries actually become more likely," he said.
What is your reaction to this? Are you a migrant already in the UK? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.What is your reaction to this? Are you a migrant already in the UK? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story.
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