UK's participation in the UNHCR Syrian Refugees Programme

On Wednesday 29th January, there will be a debate in the House of Commons on UK's participation in the UNHCR Syrian Refugees Programme. So for all those who are in the UK, email/phone your MPs, ask them for their views and get them to vote for the programme!

Here's a link for an email template by a UK charity RefugeeCouncil which you can use.

The following is the email I sent to my MP.

Dear __________,

As I'm aware, there's a debate on Wednesday 29th January regarding UK's Participation in the UNHCR Syrian Refugees Programme. I wanted to enquire what your position on the matter is and what you will bring to the debate on Wednesday.

I think it's very important for the UK to be involved in the humanitarian side of the Syrian uprising and a resettlement program offers a durable solution to help the most vulnerable struggling in the region. There are over 2,300,000 registered refugees in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon alone, and over 3,000,000 internally displaced Syrians. Yet these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg. As the Syrian Uprising is soon to enter its fourth year, many Syrians are struggling financially both within Syria and abroad. I'm sure you're aware from the news of the conditions inside Syria and also in the refugee camps in Jordan and Turkey.

As a result of the current conditions, the UK must work with the UN and the wider international community to initiate an immediate programme of emergency humanitarian evacuations to help refugees whose needs are the most acute. Furthermore, it should be made possible for Syrians with a connection to the UK, in particular those who have family members who are either British citizens or are recognised as refugees by the UK government to be assisted to enter the UK to join their families and communities. I personally know of a case where a young lady has her visa application denied by the British embassy in Lebanon and in Egypt despite her mother, step father and their family living in the UK. Her husband died a year after their marriage in Damascus and has now returned to Damascus with no other options. Is it ethical to deny family members the right to be with their immediate families?

Additionally, the UK should set an example for the wider international community by establishing a substantial and co-ordinated resettlement programme in the UK and encourage other European member states to do so likewise. Sweden has offered unlimited assistance to Syrian refugees allowing asylum and permanent residency to all Syrians that enter the country whilst Germany have offered 10,000 humanitarian visas for Syrians.

There are considerable strains on neighbouring countries to absorb refugees though over recent months many Syrian refugees are facing hostile environments in host countries; particularly Egypt and Jordan, and increasingly in Lebanon. Refugees who leave Syria for political reasons are unable to travel to Lebanon for security concerns.

Of course there are those who will always oppose immigration to the UK; however I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Furthermore, in this case there is an imperative need to help those who face harsh conditions that no one should ever have to face. By offering Syrians a chance to live in the UK, many children would continue their education which they would unable to do so either in Syria or neighbouring countries as many have to work for their families to survive. It would also allow many Syrians the right to work and contribute towards British life; many Syrians have professional roles so they could rely on their own earnings and provide different perspectives and ideas which could only add to British life and diversity. Many refugees have the hope of returning to Syria once the violence and bloodshed has stopped and security has returned to the country. Their experience in the UK would help Syrians to rebuild their country as they would have continued their education and training, gained work experience and improved upon their skills.

In terms of what the UK would get out of a resettlement plan can be seen from past experience. Firstly, immigrants, including refugees, pay more into public's money compared to their UK born counterparts (http://www.ippr.org/publication/55/1352/paying-their-way-the-fiscal-contribution-of-immigrants-in-the-uk). 

Secondly, 30,000 jobs have been estimated to have been created in Leicester by Ugandan Asian refugees since 1972 (http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/aug/11/race.world).

Another advantage would be the economic benefit of accepting refugees whose professions are in medicine. There are currently 1,200 medically qualified refugees on the British Medical Association's database. It's estimated that it costs £25,000 to support a refugee doctor to practice in the UK whereas training a new doctor in the UK is estimated to cost between £200,000 and £250,000 (http://www.nhsemployers.org/Aboutus/Publications/Pages/ReapingTheRewards.aspx).

Lastly, asylum seeking children contribute very positively to schools across the country which in turn enables more successful integration of families into local communities (http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Education/Inclusion/Asylum-seeker-children/The-education-of-asylum-seeker-pupils/%28language%29/eng-GB).

I hope you will consider my email in your decision and I would highly appreciate hearing your opinion and decision prior to the debate on Wednesday.

Thank you for your time and help. I look forward to hearing from you.

Your sincerely,

What can I say to you, oh nation?

(With English subtitles)

Fleeing Syria for their lives

A series of photographs were published in Aljazeera by Brian Sokol for UNHCR where the photographs show the most important object that these refugees fled with, on a day the numbers of refugees touched one million. These photographs portrays the personal stories of 13 refugees and their families which illustrates the extent to how Syrians have suffered; imagine these 13 stories turned into a million, the consequences are catastrophic. Yet none of the pictures contain any violence, weapons, blood or injury, just people with their memories, hopes and dreams. It's these ordinary everyday people who are being affected.

Hisham, 37, and his family fled Syria early in 2012, paying a smuggler $1,100 to take them across the border. The most important thing Hisham was able to bring with him is the photograph of his wife that he holds here. "This is important," he says, "because she gave me this photo back home before we were married, during the time when we were dating. It always brings me great memories and reminds me of my happiest time back home in Syria."

Yusuf and his family fled their home several months before this photograph was taken. The most important thing he was able to bring from Syria is the mobile phone that he holds in this photograph. "With this, I'm able to call my father. We're close enough to Syria here that I can catch signal from the Syrian towers sometimes." The phone also holds photographs of family members who are still in Syria, which he is able to keep with him at all times.

Neda, approximately 100 years old (age between 90 and 107 according to family members), fled from her home last December when the apartments surrounding hers were destroyed. Crossing the border into Iraq was a very difficult process for her, and the journey on foot lasted the better part of a day. The most important thing she was able to bring with her is the ring that she displays here. When she was ten years old, her mother gave it to her from her death bed, saying, "Keep this ring and remember me."

Mohammed, 70, and his family fled Syria when their family home in Damascus was destroyed by a bomb. They escaped in the back of a truck after covering themselves with plastic sheeting. The most important thing Mohammed was able to bring with him is the cane that he holds in this photograph. He says that without it, he wouldn't have been able to make the two-hour crossing on foot to the Iraqi border.

Abdul and his family fled from their apartment in Syria after his wife was shot in the street during cross-fire between armed groups. The most important thing he was able to bring from Syria are the keys to his home that he holds in this photograph. Though he doesn't know whether the family's apartment is still standing, he dreams every day of returning home.

Abdullah, 43, the imam of the only mosque in the refugee camp he lives in in Iraq, fled with his family after being warned that armed groups were searching for him. The most important thing Abdullah was able to bring with him is the Koran that he holds in this photograph. As an imam, he says religion is the most important aspect of his life.

Tamara's home in Syria was partially destroyed in September, and the family decided their best chance of safety was to reach the Syrian-Turkish border. "When we left our house, we felt the sky was raining bullets," Tamara recalled. "We were moving from one shelter to another in order to protect ourselves." The most important thing that she was able to bring with her is her diploma. With it she will be able to continue her education in Turkey.

Ahmed, 82, and his wife Fatima, 67, fled from their home in August 2012 after their neighbour was killed for asking soldiers why they had executed his son. The most important thing Ahmed was able to bring with him from Syria is his wife. "She's the best woman that I've met in my life," he says. "Even if I were to go back 55 years, I would choose you again."

Marwa, 8, and her family arrived in a refugee camp in Iraq by foot. She says she wept as she made the journey through the cold, over a rough trail, as her mother carried her and her baby brother. She is now attending school and says that she finally feels safe. The most important thing she was able to bring with her when she left are the bracelets she displays in this photograph.

Iman, 25, decided to flee with her son and daughter when she heard accounts of sexual harassment against women in her home city in Syria. The most important thing Iman was able to bring with her is the Koran that she holds here. She says religion is the most important aspect of her life, and that the Koran gives her a sense of protection. "As long as I have it with me, I'm connected to God," she says.

Amina, 9, lives with her family in an uninsulated, partially constructed home in Iraq. About 30 people share the cold, drafty space. The most important thing Amina was able to bring with her are the jeans that she holds in this photograph. She has only worn the jeans three times, all in Syria - twice to wedding parties, and once when she went to visit her grandfather.

Salma, 24, and her family were forced to flee their home last summer. Confined to a wheelchair and blind in both eyes, she says she was terrified by what was happening around her. Salma says the only important thing that she brought with her "is my soul, nothing more - nothing material". When asked about her wheelchair, she seemed surprised, saying that she considers it an extension of her body, not an object.

Abdulaziz, 37, fled his home in Syria the night his neighbors were killed. The next day he used the majority of his savings to hire a truck to flee with his wife and his two sons. The most important thing that he was able to bring with him is the instrument he holds here. It is called a buzuq and he says that "playing it fills me with a sense of nostalgia and reminds me of my homeland".


* The above names used for the people in the photographs, are not their real names.

Since #Mar15 2011...

Syrians killed: 10,459

Children killed: 750

Females killed: 627

Injured: +35,000

Missing: +65,000

Protesters killed under torture: 439

Protesters currently incarcerated: +212,000

Syrian refugees since March: +20,627

Refugees in Jordan: +4,000 

Refugees in Lebanon: +6,400 

Refugees in Turkey: 10,227