Immigration Solicitors

International Development Secretary Justine Greening has announced a £5 million package, which has been released to the Start Network to help migrants arriving in the Balkans.

The Start Network is a group of humanitarian organisations responding to emergencies. The funding will help provide emergency relief supplies such as sleeping bags, towels, rainwear, hygiene kits, nappies, food and clean water for refugees and migrants in Greece, Serbia and Macedonia.

Ms Greening said:

“From day one of the Syria crisis, the UK has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response.

“We’ve helped millions to stay in the region, given asylum to those who most need it, used our Royal Navy ships to save lives in the Mediterranean, and taken on the criminal people-smuggling gangs who are profiting from people’s suffering.

“But the crisis is worsening and the number of people fleeing the conflict, persecution and hopelessness in Syria is growing.

“Across the Middle East and in parts of Europe, Syrian children and their families – scarred by war – now face worsening winter conditions, many dressed in nothing but the light summer clothes they escaped in.

“Some are forced to sleep in the open, so this latest assistance from the UK – food, water and sleeping bags – is simple but badly needed.

“The UK can be proud of the help we’re giving. But unless other countries match the UK’s lead and step up now with new funding to meet the humanitarian needs in Syria and beyond, the numbers of desperate people on our doorstep will continue to grow.”

The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the Syria crisis, and has given more than £1.1 billion since the crisis began – more than most other European countries put together, the government says.

In total, the UK has committed nearly £25m in countries that refugees and migrants are leaving from and transiting through – including £16.5m to provide life-saving aid to migrants and refugees and support to governments in managing registration in Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey.

The UK has also donated approximately £5m to countries in Africa, including north Africa, for assistance, protection and counselling on options and risks around travel, and support for people to return home where required – and £2.5m to support systems for better understanding and predicting trends in movement, to help alleviate the pressures that force people to move and allow for a better, more rapid humanitarian response.

The UK has also given £500,000 to supply tents, blankets and sleeping materials through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
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