This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36102709
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK to take thousands of child refugees | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The UK is to take in up to 3,000 more refugees, the majority of them vulnerable children, from the war-torn Syria region by 2020. | |
| The government called the move the "largest resettlement programme for children in the world". | The government called the move the "largest resettlement programme for children in the world". |
| It is in addition to UK prime minister David Cameron's pledge to take 20,000 refugees by 2020. | It is in addition to UK prime minister David Cameron's pledge to take 20,000 refugees by 2020. |
| The scheme will target unaccompanied children as well as those considered at risk of abuse and exploitation. | |
| The government said these included children threatened with child labour and child marriage. | |
| 'Exceptional circumstances' | |
| Several hundred people are expected to be resettled by April 2017 "with a view to resettling up to 3,000 over the lifetime of this Parliament" from the Middle East and North Africa, the government said. | |
| The scheme will be reviewed after two years. | |
| Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: "We have always been clear that the vast majority of vulnerable children are better off remaining in host countries in the region so they can be reunited with surviving family members. However, there are exceptional circumstances in which it is in a child's best interests to be resettled in the UK. | Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: "We have always been clear that the vast majority of vulnerable children are better off remaining in host countries in the region so they can be reunited with surviving family members. However, there are exceptional circumstances in which it is in a child's best interests to be resettled in the UK. |
| "We have engaged with a number of NGOs, including the UNHCR on the best way to provide protection to refugee children and ensure their welfare and safety remain at the heart of every decision made." | "We have engaged with a number of NGOs, including the UNHCR on the best way to provide protection to refugee children and ensure their welfare and safety remain at the heart of every decision made." |
| The government has already committed to resettle another 20,000 Syrian refugees under the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, 1,000 of whom have already arrived, including more than 500 children. |