British scheme to resettle Syrian refugees rapped

A group of prominent UK celebrities has censured a government scheme to resettle Syrian refugees as ‘inhumane.’

In an open letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, the group denounced Britain’s resettlement program for Syrian refugees, saying it lacks compassion and humanity.

The program was founded early in 2014, following pressure by human rights campaigners.

British ministers stressed at the time that the UK could better assist Syrians by striving to improve conditions on the ground.

Following an intense period of lobbying, the Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition finally caved in, dropping its previous opposition to admitting Syrian refugees to the UK.

Over the next three years, the government is expected to resettle several hundred Syrians in the UK as part of the scheme. This contrasts sharply with UN recommendations.

Actress and Oscar winner Emma Thompson, musician Sting, and comedian Michael Palin are among the celebrities who told Cameron they are “ashamed” of the British government’s failure to do more to safely relocate Syrian refugees to Britain, RT reported.

The celebrities compared Britain’s resettlement program with Austria’s and Germany’s.

They noted how the governments of both states had increased the amount of places they are offering to Syrian refugees, saying: “We are ashamed that the UK has so far failed to do likewise.”
The letter supports a collective campaign by Amnesty International, the Refugee Council and Oxfam.

Since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011, almost 50 percent of Syrians have reportedly been uprooted from their homes and forced to flee.