Unsatisfactory reactions toward refugee crisis by David Cameron

Independent

David Cameron’s response to the refugee crisis is “clearly inadequate” and should be improved in 2016, a coalition of 27 charities has said.

The organisations, including Oxfam, Amnesty International, and the Refugee Council, say Britain must establish safe and legal routes for refugees across Europe.

They have also endorsed proposals drawn up by 350 top lawyers and former judges for Britain to take a fair share of refugees.

Better access to fair procedures to determine elegibility should be given to people travelling to the UK, they add.

“Last year’s announcement that the UK will resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years was a welcome first step, but given the numbers of people searching for safety across the globe, this response is clearly inadequate: it is too slow, too low and too narrow,” the joint letter says.

“The UK can and should be doing much more to ensure that refugees are not compelled to take life-threatening journeys or forced into smugglers’ hands.”

Other groups to have signed the letter include Christian Aid, Cafod, the International Rescue Committee, Greenpeace, Islamic Relief, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Liberty and World Vision.

The Government says the UK is playing a “leading role” in providing aid to the region and that its own resettlement targets have been met.

The UK is currently committed to taking only 20,000 refugees over the parliament – 4,000 people a year.

By contrast Germany’s Government processed that many refugees in one busy weekend and has said could take over a million over the next year.

The UK has also refused to accept refugees who have travelled to European under their own steam and is only relocating people from camps near the Syrian conflict zone.

Additionally, Britain has refused to take part in an EU refugee scheme to redistribute people claiming refuge in southern European countries, where services are already at breaking point.

Ministers have previously said they believe provision for refugees coming to Europe – including search and rescue cover for those travelling by boat – would encourage more people to make the journey.