Cameron: resettlement of child refugees 'a priority'

Addressing parliament today Cameron said refugees currently living in camps in Syria, Turkey and Jordan will be granted five-year humanitarian protection visas.

Cameron said that resettlement will be prioritised for vulnerable children and orphans stating that they have been "particularly badly affected" by the crisis in Syria.

"In most cases the interests of children are best met in the region where they can remain close to surviving family members," he said.

"But in cases where the advice of the UNHCR (the UN High Commissioner for Refugees) is that their needs should be met by resettlement here in the UK, we will ensure that vulnerable children, including orphans, will be a priority.

Cameron said Home Secretary Theresa May and Communities Secretary Greg Clark, will work intensively with local authorities and the devolved administrations to make the necessary arrangements to house and support refugees that are resettled.

He added that government will ensure that the full cost of supporting thousands of Syrian refugees in the UK will be met through aid spending for the first year, "easing the burden on local communities".

Matthew Reed, chief executive of The Children’s Society said the decision to bring more children and families fleeing Syria to the UK over the next five years is "welcome, but long overdue".

“Providing them with a five-year visa means many more incredibly vulnerable children will have the immediate sanctuary they need," he said.

"But the government must give serious thought to what happens when these visas expire, as it is crucial their long-term needs are addressed. Many of these children will be here on their own or orphaned with no links to family in Syria.

"Thousands of children who are already in the UK seeking safety from the violence, war and persecution in Syria and other countries are being pushed into severe poverty following cuts to vital financial support. As a result, many parents cannot afford the food or travel to school their children need.

"Everyone’s focus must be on making sure these desperate children and their families have the vital lifeline they need to escape these horrors."