FERMANAGH South Tyrone MP, Tom Elliott has defended his decision to reject the UK accepting 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who have managed to get as far as Europe from their war-torn country.
In a vote at Westminster on Monday night, the proposal was defeated by 294 votes to 276, a majority of 18. However, the House did agree to a Labour amendment to accept refugee children drawn from camps in the conflict zone, principally the Lebanon.
Speaking to the Herald this week, Mr Elliott drew a distinction between the displaced who had made it to Europe and those in camps across the Syrian border.
“I think it is much better to take them from where they are in immediate danger. That’s what the (UK) government is proposing to do and that is what I support. To be fair, I am not saying that the ones in Europe are not at risk, it’s just that I feel they can be better managed than the ones in the war zone.”
As to the figure of 3,000, Mr Elliott said that while he wasn’t complaining about that figure, he was at odds to understand how it was arrived at.
“I questioned it last week in the House and they said it was Save the Children’s idea. No, I don’t know how many of that figure are due to come to Northern Ireland, but I’m assuming we will still be getting young people and adults.”
Mr Elliott explained that the Stormont Assembly had agreed last September to accept some of the refugees.
Meanwhile, community groups in Derry are preparing to accept 10 Syrian refugee families. The mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Elisha McCallion said she was ‘extremely moved’ by the efforts being made by local organisations to make the refugees feel welcome.
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