Immigration Solicitors

The United Nations (UN) and Oxfam are calling for wealthier nations such as the UK to accept more Syrian refugees.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation reports that around 3 million people have now fled the conflict in Syria – and thousands of others are fleeing persecution and conflicts in Iraq, the Middle East and African countries.

UN figures show that as well as 3 million Syrian refugees, a further 6.5 million Syrians are currently displaced within Syria. The UN says that around half of all Syrians have now been forced to “flee for their lives and abandon their homes” as the crisis in Syria deepens. Most Syrian refugees have fled to neighbouring countries, says the UN.

However, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported that 123,000 Syrians have made their way to Europe since March 2011, when the conflict began.

However, the Refugee Council has repeatedly called for the UK to take more refugees from Syria.

The council has said on social media that the number of Syrian refugees who have been allowed to settle in the UK is “pitiful”.

Oxfam has also called on the UK to accept more Syrian refugees.

“To date, it has pledged several hundred refugee places – and only 50 Syria refugees have been resettled by June 2014,” the charity said.

A scheme run by the UN has resettled 5,000 Syrian refugees in countries other than those bordering Syria.

The head of Oxfam’s Syria crisis response, Andy Baker, said:

“It is shocking that over three years into a crisis which shows no sign of abating, under the UN refugee resettlement scheme rich countries have taken in a mere 5,000 of the 3 million registered refugees – who are often struggling to survive from one day to the next.

“With 10.8 million more people needing help inside Syria – and indiscriminate attacks on civilians claiming more lives each week – more and more families will be forced to seek sanctuary.

“Refugees are increasingly depleting their savings and assets – with opportunities to work in neighbouring countries often limited or non-existent, people have few choices left open to them, and many can’t see how they can provide for their families in the future,” Mr Baker said.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors

Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors are specialists in immigration law and asylum in the UK.

Duncan Lewis is also a leading provider of Legal Aid services in the UK and can advise on:

• Asylum appeals
• British citizenship
• Fast-track detention process
• Housing benefit
• Illegal entry to the UK
• Right to work in the UK
• Spouse visas
• Student visas
• Visa overstays.

For expert legal advice on immigration law and asylum in the UK, call Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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