The U.N reveals Syrians are now the biggest group seeking asylum in industrialized countries, as the impact of conflict in the country has spread to other nations. In the industrialized world, 56,400 Syrians requested refugee status in 2013, more than double the number the previous year, the UNHCR said in its report Asylum Trends 2013. The report also revealed for the first time in eight years, the United States was not the biggest recipient of asylum seekers among the 44 countries. Germany rose to the top destination worldwide, receiving 109,600 asylum claims. Within Europe, it was followed by France with 60,100 and Sweden with 54,300.
This week also marks the tenth anniversary of the first arrival of refugees to the UK under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ Gateway Protection Programme. The programme has been hailed by many and campaigners are now urging the Government to expand the scheme.
The UK currently takes about 750 people a year through the Gateway route, a number the Refugee Council, which runs the welcome package with local authorities, wants to see increased. Chief executive of the Refugee Council, Maurice Wren who attended last week’s “Conference on the Global Refugee Conference” stated:
“Resettlement is an expression of solidarity with developing countries who host the majority of the world’s refugees. For some children, a place in the UK would give them their first ever night’s sleep on a mattress in a real bed, access to running water and the hope of a better future.”
FinalThe Guardian reported this week that an asylum seeker has told a Papua New Guinea court about eating worm-infested bread and living in prison-like conditions at the Manus island detention centre for those seeking Asylum in Australia.
Refugees London 