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Syrian refugees flight lands in UK | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
About 100 Syrian refugees have arrived in the UK - the largest group to arrive since the government expanded its resettlement scheme in September. | |
The group - thought to be mainly families - arrived at Glasgow Airport on the first of a series of charter flights expected in coming weeks. | |
They are due 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 arriving in Glasgow are from refugee camps in Lebanon, Jordan and other countries near Syria, and are thought to include people suffering from health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder. | |
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 of accommodation and support from more than 45 local authorities in the UK. | |
The latest refugees arriving as part of the vulnerable persons relocation (VPR) scheme will join others already taken in by the UK and 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. |
Case study: family hoping for a normal life | |
One Syrian family 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | He hopes to get medical treatment for his leg problems so that he is able to work to support his family. |
'I put it in my mind to leave Jordan so that I can have a future and have the medication I need, to have a future for my children and for my wife. Thanks to God, my dream became true," he said. | |
Qassem added they are coming to the UK because they thought it was a safe place where they could live normal lives like other human beings. | |
They are looking forward to integrating with British society and speaking English, he said, and he never wants to go back to Syria. | 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 |