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Syrian refugee crisis underestimated by British public, finds humanitarian study Syrian refugee crisis underestimated by British public, finds humanitarian study
(4 days later)
The British public underestimates the number of refugees fleeing Syria by 4.5 million people, a report has found.The British public underestimates the number of refugees fleeing Syria by 4.5 million people, a report has found.
Nearly 5 million Syrians have been displaced by the civil war, yet Britons believe the figure to be closer to 300,000, the study says – 16 times fewer than official figures suggest.Nearly 5 million Syrians have been displaced by the civil war, yet Britons believe the figure to be closer to 300,000, the study says – 16 times fewer than official figures suggest.
The report also found the public believed the UK had accepted 10,000 Syrian refugees – twice as many as the latest official number of 5,000. The government has pledged to accept 20,000 Syrians by 2020.The report also found the public believed the UK had accepted 10,000 Syrian refugees – twice as many as the latest official number of 5,000. The government has pledged to accept 20,000 Syrians by 2020.
The humanitarian index compared six nations that have accepted refugees, revealing a huge public underestimation of the scale of the crisis and an exaggerated perception of their own governments’ response.The humanitarian index compared six nations that have accepted refugees, revealing a huge public underestimation of the scale of the crisis and an exaggerated perception of their own governments’ response.
The US, UK, Germany, France, Iran and Lebanon were surveyed in the report, carried out by the Edelman group, a communications firm, as campaigners and charities meet this weekend at a humanitarian conference in Armenia.The US, UK, Germany, France, Iran and Lebanon were surveyed in the report, carried out by the Edelman group, a communications firm, as campaigners and charities meet this weekend at a humanitarian conference in Armenia.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the conflict has prompted 4.8 million Syrians to flee their homes since 2011. According to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the conflict has prompted 4.8 million Syrians to flee to other countries since 2011. Another 6.6 million people have been internally displaced by violence.
The survey, which claims to be the first of its kind to attempt to compare international opinion, conducted online interviews with 4,800 people from six nations, including 1,000 British adults representative of the general population in terms of age and gender.The survey, which claims to be the first of its kind to attempt to compare international opinion, conducted online interviews with 4,800 people from six nations, including 1,000 British adults representative of the general population in terms of age and gender.
Across the surveyed countries, the refugee crisis was seen as a more pressing issue than hunger, water and climate change. Half the people questioned said they thought the Syrian people had been abandoned by the international community.Across the surveyed countries, the refugee crisis was seen as a more pressing issue than hunger, water and climate change. Half the people questioned said they thought the Syrian people had been abandoned by the international community.
The study also found Britons have more faith in Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and the US president Barack Obama to address the crisis than in their own prime minister. Just 39% of those surveyed in the UK said David Cameron was the most capable world leader to deal with the situation. The study also found Britons have more faith in Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, and the US president, Barack Obama, to address the crisis than in their own prime minister. Only 39% of those surveyed in the UK said David Cameron was the most capable world leader to deal with the situation.
Moreover, despite the continued uncertainty surrounding the future of the EU, almost half of Britons back it to take the lead on dealing with the crisis.Moreover, despite the continued uncertainty surrounding the future of the EU, almost half of Britons back it to take the lead on dealing with the crisis.
The index was carried out on behalf of the inaugural humanitarian award, the Aurora prize, which is to be handed out by actor George Clooney this weekend during a discussion about the plight of refugees between charities, delegates and other organisations.The index was carried out on behalf of the inaugural humanitarian award, the Aurora prize, which is to be handed out by actor George Clooney this weekend during a discussion about the plight of refugees between charities, delegates and other organisations.
Vartan Gregorian, a member of the Aurora prize selection committee, called for the public to be “better informed” about the facts. “The gulf between the public’s understanding of the refugee crisis and reality should weigh heavily on all of us. Underestimating the scale of the problem means that the public also underestimates the investment required to alleviate the crisis. A better-informed public would be in a position to compel governments to act.” Vartan Gregorian, a member of the Aurora prize selection committee, called for the public to be better informed about the facts. “The gulf between the public’s understanding of the refugee crisis and reality should weigh heavily on all of us. Underestimating the scale of the problem means that the public also underestimates the investment required to alleviate the crisis. A better-informed public would be in a position to compel governments to act.”
Oxfam accused the government of “pretending this is someone else’s problem”. Maya Mailer, head of policy and campaigns for Oxfam, said: “At a time when the number of people forced to flee their homes has reached record levels, it is shocking that the UK has taken in less than 1% of refugees. As the world’s fifth biggest economy, the UK can and should do more to help vulnerable people fleeing war, persecution and poverty.” Oxfam accused the British government of “pretending this is someone else’s problem”. Maya Mailer, head of policy and campaigns for Oxfam, said: “At a time when the number of people forced to flee their homes has reached record levels, it is shocking that the UK has taken in less than 1% of refugees. As the world’s fifth biggest economy, the UK can and should do more to help vulnerable people fleeing war, persecution and poverty.”
She added: “While the British government has been generous in providing financial aid, it has just offered to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020. This equates to each of our 69 cities receiving only around 60 people per year, hardly an influx.” She added: “While the British government has been generous in providing financial aid, it has offered to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020. This equates to each of our 69 cities receiving only around 60 people per year – hardly an influx.”