UK is failing to take 'fair share' of Syrian refugees, Oxfam says

Updated

The UK and other wealthy nations have resettled less than 2% of Syrian refugees escaping the bloody conflict, falling far short of their "fair share", according to Oxfam.

Britain has so far pledged to take on less than a quarter of its fair quota, a figure calculated by the size of the economy, said the charity as it branded the figures "shocking".

Other countries that have been urged to increase their share are France, the Netherlands, the United States and Denmark.

Only Canada, Germany and Norway have made pledges exceeding their fair share.

Ahead of a summit on the refugee crisis to be held in Geneva this week, Oxfam said the wealthiest countries should pledge to take at least 10% of the 4.8 million registered refugees by the end of 2016.

The share equals around 480,000 people, although the richest nations have only offered places to under 130,000 so far, around a quarter of the minimum, according to campaigners who said only 67,000 had reached their final destination.

The charity warned that the burden was being placed on countries with fragile economies and weak infrastructures.

Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam GB, said: 'It's shocking that while people continue to flee Syria most countries have failed to provide a safe home for the most vulnerable.

"While the British government has been generous in providing financial aid, it's only offered to resettle 20,000 people by 2020. This is simply not good enough and Britain can and should do more."

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