Cameron says Britain will take in thousands of Syrian refugees

Following an increase of pressure on David Cameron to do more to help with the surge of Syrian asylum seekers and refugees crossing into Europe, the Prime Minister announced on Friday that the UK would take in thousands more refugees.

A Number 10 press release says exact details will be announced after discussions with NGOs and other partners.

In a speech in Lisbon on Friday, Cameron said migration "is clearly the biggest challenge facing countries across Europe today."

He continued: "We know that many are Syrians fleeing the conflict that has raged across their country, that has killed over 220,000 and has forced more than 11 million people to flee their homes. They now face 2 enemies at home – Assad and ISIL. Britain has a moral responsibility to help refugees as we have done throughout our history. We are already are providing sanctuary and we will continue to do so."

"Now we have already accepted around 5,000 Syrians and have introduced a specific resettlement scheme, alongside those we already have, to help those Syrian refugees particularly at risk. As I said earlier this week, we will accept thousands more under these existing schemes and we keep them under review."

Cameron said that the UK would continue with its approach of resettling refugees from camps in the region rather than taking in people who have already made their way to Europe. The Prime Minister said this was so refugees could avoid risking the hazardous journey which has tragically cost so many lives.

According to Sky News, the Government is currently preparing to accept at least 10,000 people from camps on the Syrian border, with Number 10 keen to demonstrate that, given stinging criticism from elsewhere in the EU, the UK is "pulling its weight".

Chancellor George Osborne said Britain will use some of its foreign aid budget to help local councils house the refugees.

The Times says that hundreds of millions of pounds from the £12 billion a year aid budget will be diverted to relieve the migration crisis.

Human Rights Watch's UK director, David Mepham, said on Friday that David Cameron’s government "has shown a shameful lack of leadership and compassion in the face of Europe’s refugee crisis". Mepham wrote: "David Cameron has mischaracterised and mishandled this crisis from the outset. He now has the chance to make amends – both politically and morally – by instigating a long overdue shift in British policy."

UNHCR issues key guidelines

Also on Friday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued key guidelines for dealing with Europe's refugee crisis

You can read the statement here.

UNHCR chief António Guterres called on Europe to find an effective common response to the "biggest refugee influx in decades" and said we must all keep in mind the following fundamental points:

"1. This is a primarily refugee crisis, not only a migration phenomenon. The vast majority of those arriving in Greece come from conflict zones like Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan and are simply running for their lives. All people on the move in these tragic circumstances deserve to see their human rights and dignity fully respected, independently of their legal status. But we cannot forget the particular responsibility all states have vis a vis refugees, in accordance with international law.

2. Europe cannot go on responding to this crisis with a piecemeal or incremental approach. No country can do it alone, and no country can refuse to do its part. It is no surprise that, when a system is unbalanced and dysfunctional, everything gets blocked when the pressure mounts. This is a defining moment for the European Union, and it now has no other choice but to mobilize full force around this crisis. The only way to solve this problem is for the Union and all member states to implement a common strategy, based on responsibility, solidarity and trust.

3. Concretely, this means taking urgent and courageous measures to stabilize the situation and then finding a way to truly share responsibility in the mid to longer term. The EU must be ready, with the consent and in support of the concerned governments – mainly Greece and Hungary, but also Italy – to put in place immediate and adequate emergency reception, assistance and registration capacity. The European Commission should mobilize the EU asylum, migration and civil protection agencies and mechanisms for this purpose, including the resources of member states and with the support of UNHCR, IOM and civil society. From our side, UNHCR is fully committed to step up its efforts. It is essential that refugee families that disembark in Europe after having lost everything are welcomed into a safe and caring environment.

4. People who are found to have a valid protection claim in this initial screening must then benefit from a mass relocation programme, with the mandatory participation of all EU member states. A very preliminary estimate would indicate a potential need to increase relocation opportunities to as many as 200,000 places. This can only work if it goes hand in hand with adequate reception capacities, especially in Greece. Solidarity cannot be the responsibility of only a few EU member states.

5. Those who are found not to be in need of international protection and who cannot benefit from legal migration opportunities should be helped to return quickly to their home countries, in full respect of their human rights.

6. The only ones who benefit from the lack of a common European response are the smugglers and traffickers who are making profit from people's desperation to reach safety. More effective international cooperation is required to crack down on smugglers, including those operating inside the EU, but in ways that allow for the victims to be protected. But none of these efforts will be effective without opening up more opportunities for people to come legally to Europe and find safety upon arrival. Thousands of refugee parents are risking the lives of their children on unsafe smuggling boats primarily because they have no other choice. European countries – as well as governments in other regions – must make some fundamental changes to allow for larger resettlement and humanitarian admission quotas, expanded visa and sponsorship programmes, scholarships and other ways to enter Europe legally. Crucially, family reunification has to become a real, accessible option for many more people than is currently the case. If these mechanisms are expanded and made more efficient, we can reduce the number of those who are forced to risk their lives at sea for lack of alternative options."