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Germany says it can take in 500,000 Syrian refugees every year - as David Cameron insists on accepting no more than 20,000 over 5 years Germany says it can take in 500,000 Syrian refugees every year - as David Cameron insists on accepting no more than 20,000 in 5 years
(4 months later)
Germany has said it can take in at least half a million Syrian refugees every year - piling pressure on the UK to accept more than the 4,000 a year promised by David Cameron. Germany can take in at half a million Syrian refugees every year, the country's vice chancellor has said, piling pressure on the UK to accept more than the 4,000 a year promised by David Cameron yesterday.
Sigmar Gabriel, the German vice chancellor, said European nations must take their fair share as he said he had "no doubt" that Germany could cope with an annual intake of more than 500,000 over the next few years.Sigmar Gabriel, the German vice chancellor, said European nations must take their fair share as he said he had "no doubt" that Germany could cope with an annual intake of more than 500,000 over the next few years.
It comes as a fresh photo emerged of Laith Majod, the refugee pictured weeping and cradling his children as they landed on the Greek island of Kos. Laith Majid was photographed crying and clutching his children after they almost drowned on the voyage to Kos, but he and his family have now arrived safely in Germany
The new image of him and his family smiling after arriving safely in Berlin offers an uplifting contrast to the previous photo, which had come to symbolise the desperation of those fleeing war and persecution in the Middle East.
German officials say they expect more than 800,000 asylum seekers will be accepted into the country by the end of 2015, having already taken in 35,000 in the first six months of the year.German officials say they expect more than 800,000 asylum seekers will be accepted into the country by the end of 2015, having already taken in 35,000 in the first six months of the year.
Around 15,000 refugees were welcomed by Germany last weekend alone.  David Cameron announced the UK would take in 'up to 20,000' Syrian refugees, but they will be spread out over the next five years Around 15,000 refugees were welcomed by Germany last weekend alone.
However other European countries, including the UK, have refused to be as generous in taking in those fleeing the four-year civil war in Syria, preferring to concentrate resources into helping refugee camps in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan instead.However other European countries, including the UK, have refused to be as generous in taking in those fleeing the four-year civil war in Syria, preferring to concentrate resources into helping refugee camps in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan instead.
Mr Cameron announced a change of Government policy on the issue yesterday, saying the UK would welcome up to 20,000 before 2015.Mr Cameron announced a change of Government policy on the issue yesterday, saying the UK would welcome up to 20,000 before 2015.
Speaking to ZDF public television, Mr Gabriel, who is Germany's vice-chancellor and leader of the centre-left Social Democrats party, said: 'I believe we could surely deal with something in the order of half a million for several years. I have no doubt about that, maybe more."Speaking to ZDF public television, Mr Gabriel, who is Germany's vice-chancellor and leader of the centre-left Social Democrats party, said: 'I believe we could surely deal with something in the order of half a million for several years. I have no doubt about that, maybe more."
"We can't just take almost one million people every year and seamlessly integrate them' into German society," he said.  "We can't just take almost one million people every year and seamlessly integrate them' into German society," he said.  
Mr Cameron is also under intense domestic pressure to rethink his decision to spread the intake of 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years, as well as his refusal to accept any of those who have reached Europe.  
He said Britain will only take in people from refugee camps in Syria and its neighbouring countries, such as Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan, where the bulk of the four million refugees have fled to.  
Labour has been granted a three-hour debate in the House of Commons to discuss the UK's response to the growing humanitarian crisis and there will also be an SNP-staged debate tomorrow.  
Click here to sign The Independent's change.org petition calling on Britain to take its fair share of Syrian refugees.