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Save the Children response to Prime Minister’s announcement on resettlement of Syrian refugees


Monday, 7 September 2015

Our response to the Prime Minsiters announcement on the resettlement of Syrian refugees.

Justin Forsyth, Save the Children CEO, said: “The Prime Minister’s announcement to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees direct from the region into Britain is important and welcome - it will make a real difference to some very vulnerable families and children.

“We also need to help those refugees already in Europe, specifically by taking in 3,000 of the children who have travelled here completely alone. The Prime Minister could continue a proud British tradition, started by the kindertransport, of giving lone children a second chance in Britain.

“No one country or government can provide the solution to this crisis. That is why Save the Children has set out a five point plan for a comprehensive Europe response from aid to resettlement. When the Home Secretary meets European ministers next Monday we need EU ministers to agree a bold comprehensive European response.

“European leaders must match both the scale of the challenge and the compassion of the public”

Notes to editors

We believe EU leaders meeting on September 14th should agree the following five-point plan:

  1. Step up regional response and cooperation, including increased aid for refugees in Syria, Lebanon and other neighbouring countries.
  2. Maintain search-and-rescue efforts.
  3. Improve safe and legal routes into Europe, especially for children who face particularly severe risks and stop traffickers.
  4. Significantly strengthen reception and processing of refugees and separate migrants from refugees. This needs to happen in Italy and Greece but with common funding.
  5. Agree to share the burden of resettlement, including relocation of vulnerable groups, especially children.

For interviews, contact Ian Preston in the Save the Children Press office – 0203 763 1031 / i.preston@savethechildren.org.uk