The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Plea over plight of Syrian refugees

Human rights activists have protested outside Parliament to urge the Government to do more to help victims of the Syrian civil war.
Human rights activists have protested outside Parliament to urge the Government to do more to help victims of the Syrian civil war.Waving banners members of Amnesty International’s London branch demonstrated in Parliament Square to highlight the plight of the four million people displaced by the years of conflict.

The Uk has officially taken in 187 of those and the protesters want the Government to open the door to many more.

Syrian Husam Helmi, 35, a postgraduate student in economics at Brunel University, said that the UK had a “moral responsibility” towards the refugees and that the UK had only take in a “very tiny” number.

He said: “We thank the UK government for being the leader for humanitarian aid for the people at first. But that is not enough and you could help us with other things, not only financial aid for the refugee camps and all this stuff.

“These people, they cannot get access to medicine and they have serious injuries, burns and torture and sexual abuse. They need very good (healthcare) like the NHS for example or a European country where they have good facilities for medicine and treatment.

“They need to come to the UK for treatment.”

In June David Cameron said he intended to “modestly expand” the scheme to take in those who escape Syria as it is torn apart by civil war and the rise of Islamic State (IS) extremists.

Britain had previously committed to take in 500 migrants from Syria over three years and sources indicated that the Government was now prepared to accept “a few hundred more”.

The Prime Minister said at the time: “Today I can announce that we will work with the United Nations to modestly expand this national scheme so that we provide resettlement for the most vulnerable fleeing Syria, those who cannot be adequately protected in neighbouring countries.”

Charities at the time urged Mr Cameron to “go the extra mile” by offering a safe haven to thousands of those desperately fleeing for their lives.