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Syrian refugee group set to arrive in UK | Syrian refugee group set to arrive in UK |
(about 7 hours later) | |
About 100 Syrian refugees are due to land in the UK - the largest group to arrive since the government expanded its resettlement scheme in September. | About 100 Syrian refugees are due to land in the UK - the largest group to arrive since the government expanded its resettlement scheme in September. |
The group - thought to be mainly families - will arrive at Glasgow Airport on the first of a series of charter flights carrying refugees. | The group - thought to be mainly families - will arrive at Glasgow Airport on the first of a series of charter flights carrying refugees. |
They are expected to be resettled by local authorities across Scotland. | They are expected to be resettled by local authorities across Scotland. |
The government has said 20,000 refugees will be resettled in the UK by 2020 - with 1,000 due to arrive by Christmas. | The government has said 20,000 refugees will be resettled in the UK by 2020 - with 1,000 due to arrive by Christmas. |
Those set to arrive in Glasgow are from refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and other countries near Syria. | Those set to arrive in Glasgow are from refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and other countries near Syria. |
They include people suffering from health problems, including post traumatic stress disorder, our correspondent added. | They include people suffering from health problems, including post traumatic stress disorder, our correspondent added. |
Further charter flights will follow over the next six weeks. | Further charter flights will follow over the next six weeks. |
What awaits refugees coming to the UK? | What awaits refugees coming to the UK? |
Are refugees prepared for life in Britain? | Are refugees prepared for life in Britain? |
Officials say the UK only agrees to accept refugees who have committed to undergoing a two-stage security screening process. | Officials say the UK only agrees to accept refugees who have committed to undergoing a two-stage security screening process. |
The Home Office has said it has received offers to provide support and accommodation from more than 45 local authorities in the UK. | The Home Office has said it has received offers to provide support and accommodation from more than 45 local authorities in the UK. |
The latest refugees arriving as part of the vulnerable persons resettlement (VPR) scheme will join others who have been given legal protection and access to housing, employment, education and, where they need it, expert medical care. | The latest refugees arriving as part of the vulnerable persons resettlement (VPR) scheme will join others who have been given legal protection and access to housing, employment, education and, where they need it, expert medical care. |
The UK will have to take about 400 refugees a month in order to meet its 20,000 target by 2020. | The UK will have to take about 400 refugees a month in order to meet its 20,000 target by 2020. |
Hoping for normal lives | |
One Syrian family who will be arriving in Glasgow is Qassem, Hiba and their two-year-old daughter Hajar. | |
They fled to Jordan as refugees in 2013 after leaving their home in Deraa, a city in south-west Syria near the border with Jordan. | |
Qassem told the BBC they left Syria because many homes in their city were destroyed by bombing and they were living in fear, feeling that they had no future or security. | |
He said relatives used to carry him to the basement during bombardments, because he has leg problems caused by childhood polio and cannot walk fast. | |
Qassem said the UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR, had told them that in the UK they could expect a home, as well as proper medical care and education opportunities for their daughter. | |
He hopes to get medical treatment for his leg problems so that he is able to work to support his family. | |
They wanted to come to the UK because they thought it was a safe place where they could live normal lives like other human beings, Qassem added. | |
They are looking forward to integrating with British society and speaking English, he said, and he never wants to go back to Syria. | |
The Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme | The Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme |