A group of UK refugee charities are calling on the government to bring in a support scheme for refugees of the conflict in Israel and Palestine, which is modelled on help offered to those fleeing Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
The measure is part of a raft of proposals made by the charities, including Refugee Council, Safe Passage International, Doctors of the World, Helen Bamber Foundation and City of Sanctuary.
They want to see an emergency family scheme similar to the approach taken by the UK government when Russia invaded Ukraine. This would see refugees able to seek refuge in the UK through a British sponsor.
A medical evaluation is also needed for people in need of specialist care in the conflict in Israel and Palestine.
The charities also want to see emergency refugee protection visa in place for victims as well as facilitated travel for UK nationals and those with the right to enter the UK.
The cases of Israelis and Palestinians already in the UK asylum system need to prioritised, the charities add.
🚨 Together with @SafePassageIntl @HelenBamber @CityofSanctuary @STARnational @AfricanRainbow1 @CARAS_LDN @HereForGoodLaw @BigLeafSurrey @voicesinexile @DOTW_UK @stories_supper @RefugeeSupportE @GovanCP @PickwellFounder @Another_Europe @WFMigrantAction @GomesPodcast, we urge the…
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“As the conflict worsens the number of Palestinian men, women and children displaced and those facing grave danger will only increase,” said Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon.
“People who aren’t secure and safe in their homes need access to safety and the UK must be ready to play a role by implementing a package of emergency measures at short notice.
“Responses to recent major conflicts have resulted in different schemes for different nationalities, all with separate and often complex eligibility criteria and unclear funding regimes. Instead of this ad hoc and inconsistent approach, a standard set of measures to provide safe passage to those who need it should be operationalised as and when a crisis warrants such a response.
“At the same time it is vital that the right to asylum is up held for those who, through no fault of their own, have to take dangerous journeys to the UK as well as expanding safe routes including an ambitious multi-year resettlement commitment, wider family reunion pathways, and the piloting of a refugee visa.”
Earlier this month it emerged there had been a spike in antisemitic incidents in the UK since the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel. This saw the UK government to give £3m to a Jewish charity involved in increasing security.
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