Newsuk newsRefugeesSyria

UK Syrian Refugees Arrive In First Move Towards 20,000 Resettlement Target

Here's How You're Helping 100 Vulnerable Syrians Start New Lives
George Bowden
|
Open Image Modal
A charter flight carring approximately a hundred Syrian refugees lands at Glasgow airport, Scotland on November 17, 2015. A first flight carrying Syrian refugees to Britain landed in Glasgow today as part of government plans to bring in 20,000 asylum-seekers over the next five years.AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
OLI SCARFF via Getty Images

Around 100 Syrian refugees landed in the UK on Tuesday, beginning their new lives in Britain as part of a scheme which helps those most in need.

The Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement programme scheme specifically helps those at high risk and those suffering from the traumatic effects of the country’s horrific civil war.

A charter plane carrying the latest arrivals landed at Glasgow airport, with its passengers expected to be placed across Scotland over the coming weeks. Since 2014, the Syrian resettlement scheme has seen around 200 Syrians placed in housing across Britain.

Open Image Modal

The plane carrying the first flight of Syrian refugees since the government announced its 20,000 target arrived at Glasgow airport on Tuesday

Those resettled through the programme include more than 100 Syrians living in and around Bradford, West Yorkshire, who have already embarked upon education and employment initiatives enabling them to rebuild their broken lives.

Among them, 24-year-olds Suha and Abdul Aziz who moved to Bradford with their one-year-old daughter Arerm after enduring the horrors of the Syrian civil war.

Open Image Modal

Suha and Abdul moved to Britain earlier this year as part of the scheme

"Now she is guaranteed the opportunity to study and to build a future. That is so important. We can all see the situation back in Syria and even in Jordan, where things are getting worse,” Suha told the BBC.

With the target of around 20,000 Syrian refugees to be resettled in the UK by 2020, the government must now expand its vulnerable persons programme to take in around 400 people a month.

Syrian Refugees: UK Resettlement Scheme Explained
Who Is Eligible?(01 of04)
Open Image Modal
The UK asks the UNHCR – the UN’s refugee agency – to determine those who might be eligible for resettlement owing to a series of factors, all of which are based on need.

  • Those who cannot be supported in their region of origin
  • Women and children at risk
  • People in severe need of medical care
  • And survivors of torture and violence against others


These are determined by extensive records kept by the UNHCR using data gathered by the organisation at its refugee camps. For Syrians fleeing civil war, many of these camps are in neighbouring Jordan and Lebanon.

Home Office officials corroborate records and make a final decision as to a candidate’s eligibility.

And while the process has been criticised for being slow, the government is working with the UNHCR to improve its processes and to document potential beneficiaries more quickly. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Where Do They Go?(02 of04)
Open Image Modal
Rather than be made to fend for themselves, those arriving under the resettlement scheme are brought into the UK’s well-oiled relocation network – run by local authorities.

Thousands have been resettled via the networks, which have operated for many years (PDF).

A dispersal scheme means that those arriving are distributed evenly across the UK. The 100 or so refugees arriving in the UK on Tuesday are to be housed across Scotland. (credit:Dan Kitwood via Getty Images)
What Do They Do?(03 of04)
Open Image Modal
Once they’ve been welcomed and settled, Syrians are given lessons in English and other skills.

School places are secured for children, doctors and medical assessments work on any health conditions. Support is available for those left traumatised by their experiences.

Refugees are eligible for the benefits citizens are able to receive – and they are helped with their housing costs. They are also able to apply for work.

They will receive five years’ humanitarian protection (PDF) – and there is the possibility of a family reunion if it can be proved a union existed prior to a person’s entry on the scheme. (credit:Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images)
And Who's Paying?(04 of04)
Open Image Modal
Questions around the funding of the scheme remain. David Cameron has said it would be funded for the first 12 months by the UK government.

The government has assured local authorities that the costs of supporting those living under the scheme for its duration will be covered.

It has been reported that it will cost around £23,420 a year to house a refugee who isn’t working, and £10,720 to house those who are working.

The Home Office told HuffPost UK that the costs of supporting refugees varied case by case. It said: "The first 12months of a refugee's resettlement costs are carefully funded by central government using the Overseas Development Aid (ODA) budget.

"We are working through the LGA with the local government sector on the level of funding and the process for accessing funds for years 2-5.

"The funding package for the scheme forms part of the Comprehensive Spending Review and further information will be available shortly once when the review is concluded." (credit:Chris McGrath via Getty Images)

READ MORE:

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip