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| Syria crisis: First 1,000 refugees have arrived in UK | Syria crisis: First 1,000 refugees have arrived in UK |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The first 1,000 Syrian refugees have now arrived in the UK under the government's scheme to resettle vulnerable people living in refugees camps, David Cameron has said. | The first 1,000 Syrian refugees have now arrived in the UK under the government's scheme to resettle vulnerable people living in refugees camps, David Cameron has said. |
| Charter flights have arrived in Glasgow, London Stansted and Belfast, and another is expected later. | Charter flights have arrived in Glasgow, London Stansted and Belfast, and another is expected later. |
| The prime minister said he had met his pledge to bring the first 1,000 people to the UK by Christmas. | The prime minister said he had met his pledge to bring the first 1,000 people to the UK by Christmas. |
| The UK government has promised to accept 20,000 Syrians over five years. | The UK government has promised to accept 20,000 Syrians over five years. |
| These will be drawn from established refugee camps, initially as part of the Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme. | |
| More than 50 local authorities have taken a share those who have already arrived. | More than 50 local authorities have taken a share those who have already arrived. |
| Alongside the VPR scheme, the UK has also granted asylum or other forms of protection to 1,868 Syrians in the year ending September 2015. | |
| An additional 216 Syrian refugees were resettled under the government's VPR scheme between January 2014 and mid-2015. | |
| 'First great step' | |
| At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron told the Commons: "I said that Britain would do its duty and with these thousand we have made a very good start." | At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron told the Commons: "I said that Britain would do its duty and with these thousand we have made a very good start." |
| He said the government was providing funding so the refugees get access to housing, healthcare and education. | He said the government was providing funding so the refugees get access to housing, healthcare and education. |
| The Refugee Council's head of advocacy Lisa Doyle welcomed the news, and said the refugees would have their lives "transformed, if not saved" by the UK resettlement programme. | The Refugee Council's head of advocacy Lisa Doyle welcomed the news, and said the refugees would have their lives "transformed, if not saved" by the UK resettlement programme. |
| However, she called on the government to also help resettle those who had risked the trip from Syria to Europe. | However, she called on the government to also help resettle those who had risked the trip from Syria to Europe. |
| 'Not enough' | |
| Under EU rules, refugees are meant to claim asylum in the first European state they enter. | Under EU rules, refugees are meant to claim asylum in the first European state they enter. |
| "What we now need to see is the same eagerness to welcome refugees shown by communities across the country reflected by Government policies," Ms Doyle said. | |
| "Resettling Syrian refugees is a great first step but Britain also needs to come forward and offer to help refugees arriving in Europe a route to safety too." | "Resettling Syrian refugees is a great first step but Britain also needs to come forward and offer to help refugees arriving in Europe a route to safety too." |
| David Cameron has argued that accepting people only from camps in Syria, Turkey and Jordan will provide a "direct and safe" route to safety - instead of encouraging them to make the journey across the Mediterranean by boat. | |
| In response to questioning from MPs, Home Secretary Theresa May said all refugees would be subject to rigorous security checks to make sure Islamic State militants were not among them. | |
| There have been criticisms from some high profile figures who believe the UK's response to the refugee crisis has not been enough. | |
| Lord Phillips, former UK Supreme Court head, and Lord Macdonald, ex-director of public prosecutions, were among 300 who signed an open letter on the issue. One retired judge said the UK could cope with taking in 75,000 refugees a year. | |
| Syria has been embroiled in a bloody armed conflict for nearly five years. More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed, and 11 million displaced from their homes - more than three million have already left the country. | Syria has been embroiled in a bloody armed conflict for nearly five years. More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed, and 11 million displaced from their homes - more than three million have already left the country. |
| Earlier this month, MPs voted in favour of UK military action in Syria, targeting so-called Islamic State, and a British bombing campaign began shortly after. | Earlier this month, MPs voted in favour of UK military action in Syria, targeting so-called Islamic State, and a British bombing campaign began shortly after. |
| Updating the Commons on the situation in Syria, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there had been "no reports of civilian casualties" from RAF air strikes. | Updating the Commons on the situation in Syria, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there had been "no reports of civilian casualties" from RAF air strikes. |
| However, Russia - which is not part of the US-led coalition against IS, and is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al Assad - continued to target Syrian opposition forces rather than IS targets, he said. | However, Russia - which is not part of the US-led coalition against IS, and is an ally of Syrian President Bashar al Assad - continued to target Syrian opposition forces rather than IS targets, he said. |