Syrian Refugee Crisis 6 years of war has torn Syria apart. Violent reactions to peaceful protests throughout the country descended Syria into chaos in early 2011. Hundreds of thousands have been killed in the conflict between the Assad regime, extremist groups and moderate opposition groups. In response to the crisis, the UK has committed £2.46 billion since 2012. This includes allocations to over 30 implementing partners (including United Nations agencies, international non-governmental organisations and the Red Cross) and is helping to meet the immediate needs of vulnerable people in Syria and of refugees in the region. Push Factors Civil war - 11 million killed or forced to leave More poverty, no savings, high rent Short education – 90,000 children without it, 20% of children left school to work for money Pull Factors Europe portrayed positively in the media Lots of work for higher wages Healthcare for free – in Syria 45 cent per day More education and for free Impacts On the EU Negative Overpopulation in cities Lack of housing Reduction of resources eg. Food Transport crowded – pollution and congestion More unemployment Strain on services such as the NHS Funding Providing schooling and paying for specialist teachers to support language barriers Integration issues Can lead to tensions Positive More money into the economy More taxpayers to pay for elderly’s health More driven workers to fill unwanted jobs Brings a range of skills Local suppliers gain more profit Statistics 400,000 People estimated to have been killed by the conflict (UN estimate 22.04.2016) 13.5 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance Approx. 300,000 to the UK 5 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries 6 million displaced within Syria 8.4 million Children in need of which 2.4 million are refugees More than 50% of Syrian’s are displaced More than 80% live below the line of poverty UN appeal for Syria but only 40% funded Germany hosts 800,000 – the most in Europe In 2015 there were 2,539 Asylum applications from Syria. Total Syrian Asylum Applications in Europe between April 2011 and March 2017: 937,718 The UK has pledged to resettle 20,000 Syrians. As of June 2016, 2,682 Syrian refuges have come to the UK through this scheme.