Cardinal Vincent has issued the following statement on 3rd July in response to the Home Secretary’s announcement that the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme will be extended with immediate effect to include non-Syrians fleeing the conflict area.
In the statement, the Cardinal says:
‘I am very pleased that Her Majesty’s Government has made this important extension to the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme with immediate effect.
‘The devastating conflict in and around Syria has affected people of many different nationalities. That is why the Catholic community has been calling for our resettlement programme to be made accessible to the most vulnerable refugees whatever their background.
‘Resettlement opportunities for those who have particular needs that cannot be met in the region are a vital complement to the international community’s wider humanitarian response.
‘As Catholics we will continue to play our part both through supporting the local Church’s relief efforts in the region and through the Community Sponsorship Scheme for refugees arriving in the UK.’
The Cardinal was reacting to a statement issued earlier in the day by Home Secretary Amber Rudd, announcing an extension of the scheme 'to enable UNHCR to refer the most vulnerable refugees in the MENA region who have fled the Syrian conflict and cannot safely return to their country of origin, whatever their nationality'.
'This provides refugees with a more direct and safe route to the UK, rather than risking the hazardous journey to Europe which has tragically cost so many lives,' added the Home Secretary.
Photo: Mazur/Catholicnews.org.uk
