Press release: UK Government must support Syrian refugees

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on the issue of the Syrian humanitarian crisis, Glasgow East MP David Linden called upon the UK Government to do more to support the victims of the ongoing conflict.

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, the country has seen untold levels of destruction, unthinkable death tolls and a refugee crisis spanning across the globe.

The observatory for Human Rights has reported that since the civil war began, an estimated 500,000 people have been killed, including more than 55,000 children.

Currently, the Syrian refugee crisis is the largest displacement crisis of the 21st century – impacting 17.6 million people.

Within Syria the country’s infrastructure has collapsed under the conflict - 95% of people lack adequate healthcare and 70% lack regular access to clean water, half the children are out of school., 80% of the population live in poverty – and 70% of all Syrians live on less than $1.90 a day.

Now in its 10th year, the Syrian Humanitarian Crisis faces another challenge – the threat of Coronavirus.

The situation in the city of Idlib is desperate. Doctors say covid-19 is now rampant in its overpopulated refugee camps which Save the Children warn 'could overwhelm Syria'. Precautionary measures like social distancing and self-isolation are all but impossible in a warzone.

Speaking from the House of Commons, David Linden MP said:

"This Government has repeatedly failed the victims of the Syrian conflict – only last month Conservative MPs voted to remove child refugee protections.

"The UK Government has also fallen short in taking in its fair share of people through resettlement schemes. The Home Office capped the Dubs Scheme at 480 children and by default it has effectively closed down, although there was no legal requirement to do this.

"More recently, the Home Office has failed to even acknowledge the refugee camp fire in Lesbos that left up to 13,000 of the most desperate people on earth homeless, many of whom were originally from Syria.

"In stark contrast to the actions of the UK Government – Scotland has welcomed refugees. Up to 2019, a total of 2,562 settled, which meant Scotland met its target three years ahead of schedule through the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement Programme.

"The Syrian people must not feel forgotten by the international community and UK aid must continue to be provided to the country."