Government to speed up refugee resettlement programme

Syrian refugees will be brought to Britain more quickly after the government announced extra resources to speed up the resettlement programme.

The UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) will be given extra support for a scheme that will identify and prioritise the most vulnerable refugees, International Development Secretary Justine Greening said.

Britain has agreed to take 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years from camps in neighbouring countries. Millions have fled the country to escape the Assad regime and threat from the so-called Islamic State.

Ms Greening said: "Britain has been supporting millions of people caught up in the brutal Syria conflict right from its start four years ago. We've given more than £1 billion in aid - second only to the United States - for food, shelter, education and health services, helping the victims of this terrible tragedy rebuild their lives in host countries.

"And we will use our expertise to help speed up the resettlement of 20,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees from the region. This is not just morally the right thing to do, but it's also the smart thing to do.

"By taking refugees directly from camps in the region we are ensuring that we reach the most vulnerable, while our aid continues to support others to stay in the region rather than make the perilous journey to Europe."