Syrian Refugees
Oral Answers to Questions — International Development
11:30 am
Jason McCartney (Colne Valley, Conservative)
What humanitarian support his Department is providing for Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement.
Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)
What humanitarian support his Department is providing for Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement.
Sam Gyimah (East Surrey, Conservative)
What humanitarian support his Department is providing for Syrian refugees; and if he will make a statement.
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
In addition to the support that we are providing within the country itself, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced that we were increasing our funding to £3 million to support the UN-led response for Syrian refugees, providing humanitarian assistance for up to 185,000 people in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq.
Jason McCartney (Colne Valley, Conservative)
I thank the Minister.
It is really important that I can show my constituents that we are
supporting the Syrian people in these difficult times. How many people
have fled across the border to Jordan, and does he think Jordan can cope
with the influx of refugees?
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
Three
weeks ago I was in Ramtha, on the Syrian border in Jordan, just 2 miles
away from Daraa, from where we could hear the gunfire. Some 140,000
people have left Syria for Jordan since the start of the crisis, more
than 30,000 of whom are seeking assistance. The Jordanian Government and
host families
have generously accommodated a
great number of refugees. We are concerned, however, that they may soon
reach capacity and that the UN may need to create tented camps to
accommodate the increasing numbers.
Tim Farron (Westmorland and Lonsdale, Liberal Democrat)
Amnesty International
has reported that some refugee camps in Turkey are so close to the
Syrian border that refugees have suffered injuries as a result of stray
bullets from clashes in Syria. Have any representations been made to the
Turkish authorities to relocate the camps and allow human rights
organisations access to them to meet Syrian refugees?
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
The answer to the hon. Gentleman’s question is emphatically yes. More than 35,000 Syrian refugees
are being assisted in Turkey and thousands more are fending for
themselves. The Turkish Government are leading and co-ordinating the
assistance to Syrian refugees, supported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
and other humanitarian agencies. Registered refugees are hosted in 10
camps, which are fully funded by the Turkish Government, but there is,
by and large, no problem with access.
Sam Gyimah (East Surrey, Conservative)
I thank the Minister for his comments on the humanitarian support that the British Government will give to people inside Syria. Will he specify which agencies our extra support will go through?
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
We have channelled significant funding through UN agencies such as the World Food Programme, the UNHCR
and the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Some
humanitarian agencies have requested us not to name them publicly as
they are concerned that their staff and operations could be put at risk.
We fully respect those concerns, and I can assure the House that all UK funding is nevertheless going to humanitarian agencies with a proven ability to operate in Syria.
Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley, Labour)
As the Minister has said, we must be grateful to neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Jordan. Is it correct that Iraqi Kurdistan and Switzerland are considering taking Syrian refugees because some of the neighbouring countries are already saying that they cannot cope?
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
A
few Syrians—currently about 6,000—have crossed into Iraq. Those who do
are predominantly Kurdish, as the right hon. Lady says. They mainly go
to the north, although some go to Anbar and Baghdad. The camp at Domiz
near Dahuk houses 3,500 such people.
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield, Labour)
The Minister mentioned Ramtha on the Jordan-Syria border. In drawing attention to my entry in the register, may I tell the Minister
that I have also visited and endorse what he says about the generosity
of the Jordanian people? What extra assistance can be given there?
Refugees fleeing Syria is a humanitarian issue, and refugees should be
treated equally whether they are Syrians or other nationalities, such as
Palestinian.
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
A
number of Palestinian refugees are indeed among those who have been
forced to flee their homes in Syria and cross into neighbouring
countries.
We recognise that that raises
difficulties, particularly in Lebanon and Jordan, and we continue to
work with country Governments, the UNHCR and UNRWA to ensure that the needs of all refugees are met. Contingency planning for greater numbers is in place.
David Hanson (Delyn, Labour)
A
number of my constituents have relatives who are refugees from Syria or
who are trying to exit Syria through shelling in cities such as Aleppo.
What steps is the Minister taking to work with the Home Office to identify British people and people who have contacts in Britain to support them to return to the UK?
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
Discussions between Departments take place in the normal way. The prime responsibility of the Department for International Development
is for the humanitarian need of people in Syria, but we will continue
to work with other Departments to see what it might be possible to do to
alleviate the suffering and plight of those who face such difficulty.
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon, Liberal Democrat)
It is right that the international community and the UK respond to people in need at a time of crisis, but does the Minister accept that, as the crisis intensifies, Syria will get poorer and the people’s needs will become greater? Does he agree with Kofi Annan
that anybody who has an interest in the future of the region and the
well-being of its people, including Russia, China and Iran, should have
an interest in ending the conflict?
Alan Duncan (Minister of State, International Development; Rutland and Melton, Conservative)
We
are working with all organisations in all countries in any way we can
to put pressure on the Syrian regime, in whose principal gift ending the
conflict rests.
