A LEADING humanitarian charity has called out the UK Government for pausing asylum decisions for Syrians.
The UK paused decisions on asylum applications for Syrians because of the “fluid” situation in the country, the Home Office said.
It comes after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad with Home Office minister Angela Eagle previously telling Times Radio that “one of the main reasons why people were fleeing and claiming asylum was to get away from the Assad regime”.
“Because things are so fluid we need to wait a little bit before we try to recommence asylum decisions in a territory where things are changing so rapidly.”
However, Doctors Without Borders has hit out at the UK Government for its decision.
In a statement, the organisation said: “Only days after Bashar al-Assad’s fall in Syria, the United Kingdom has followed several other European countries to publicly announce that they will suspend the processing of asylum applications from Syrians.
“Given the significant contextual developments in Syria, including substantial displacement, the situation is uncertain, and conditions remain dire in many of the areas we work.
“The UK Government must not instrumentalise developments in Syria to serve its own migration control agenda.
“It must ensure that Syrian asylum seekers continue to have access to asylum procedures, are protected from refoulement, and are able to access protection, rights and dignified reception conditions while awaiting a decision on their asylum application.”
Eagle was also asked if leave to remain would continue for people who had been granted the status after fleeing Syria.
She said: “We have suspended our consideration of the current asylum claims – about 6500 – until we can see what emerges from the current situation.
“If people wish to go home we’d certainly like to facilitate that, but I think it’s too early to say what will emerge from the events that have happened in the last few days.”
