The new arrivals: could the UK be doing more for refugees?
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Version 0 of 1. Hello I’m sending you this note because you expressed an interest in our new series about the experience of refugees who have arrived in Europe recently. Today, we are looking at Britain’s role in the European effort to resettle Syrian refugees. The UK government has committed to take 20,000 Syrians over the next five years, but an exhaustive tally of offers from councils shows that local authorities have space for many more than that. We have also spent time with some of the lucky ones, if that’s a word that can ever be used about refugees: a Syrian family from Idlib who are now making a new home near Nottingham as a result of the resettlement programme. “I thought of Britain as the country of liberty, of freedom. Especially after what we had been through, it’s good for my children’s future,” said Manal Rwaeh, adding that before arriving in her new home, the only thing her family knew of Nottingham was the story of Robin Hood. This project – carried out in partnership with Der Spiegel, Le Monde and El País – got off to a flying start last week with huge interest in the story of the Afghan father and son who lost seven family members during their flight from the Taliban. Said and Wali Khan are grateful for all offers of help, and are currently lodging an appeal against the Home Office’s initial decision to refuse them asylum. We are following their story closely and will report back with more soon. All the best Kate Lyons |