Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the United Kingdom has halted the processing of Syrian asylum claims. UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the situation was developing rapidly, and some individuals were returning to Syria after the recent events. Islamist extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied rebel factions captured the Syrian capital of Damascus on Sunday after years of civil war.
Germany, France, and Sweden are among the countries that have also stopped processing Syrian asylum requests, while Austria has indicated that it will soon begin deporting refugees back to the country. Since the civil war began in 2011, millions of Syrians have fled the country, following Assad’s brutal suppression of a pro-democracy uprising.
Between 2011 and 2021, more than 30,000 Syrians received asylum in the UK, with most being resettled under humanitarian schemes set up by the Home Office and coming directly from other countries they had fled to, such as Turkey and Lebanon. More than 9,000 Syrians have also been picked up on the Kent coast, having crossed the Channel in small boats. Syrians, according to Home Office figures, accounted for the fifth-largest number of asylum claims in the year ending September 2024, with almost all individuals who requested asylum being granted the right to stay.
The end of the Assad dictatorship will be expected to see a significant decline in the number of Syrians seeking refuge in Britain, with many already in the country potentially looking to return to their homeland. However, there is still concern that the rapid power shift in Syria may create a new wave of potential refugees. The Home Office will be keeping a close eye on the situation and will need to judge every asylum case on its merits.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned that the situation could lead to a new wave of people using illegal routes to reach the UK. He stated that while Assad’s downfall brings no guarantee of peace, it presents both risks and opportunities for Syrians and the region. The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, with almost 17 million people in need, and millions of refugees are largely still in neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan. Therefore, as per a Home Office spokesperson, decisions on Syrian asylum claims have been paused while the current situation is assessed. The Home Office will be keeping all country guidance about asylum claims under constant review so it can respond to emerging issues
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.