Refugee charities have called on the Government to establish an emergency family reunion scheme for Palestinians modelled on the approach introduced after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Organisations, including the Refugee Council, Safe Passage International, and Doctors of the World, have urged the Government to do more to help Palestinians who have been displaced by the war between Hamas and Israel.
As well as the introduction of a family reunion scheme, the charities called for an emergency refugee protection visa, and the prioritisation of cases of Israelis and Palestinians already in the UK asylum system.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: ‘As the conflict worsens the number of Palestinian men, women and children displaced and those facing grave danger will only increase. 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.’
A recent report by the National Audit Office (NAO) praised central and local government for swiftly implementing measures to support 131,000 Ukrainian refugees since March 2022.
