Britain's Home Secretary has announced the revival of a major refugee resettlement programme targeting conflict zones in the Middle East, with specific emphasis on Palestinian refugees from the Gaza Strip.
Yvette Cooper, who serves as Home Secretary under the Labour government, announced the decision on social media. According to Cooper, the programme will "reopen Britain's resettlement route in partnership with the United Nations."
Cooper added that the government would "resettle vulnerable refugees from camps around the world and give them the chance of a new and better life here in Britain." According to figures she provided, significant percentages of the programme will include resettlement of war refugees from Afghanistan and what she described as "survivors of the horror of Gaza."
The announcement marks a policy shift under the new Labour government, which took power following elections last year. The resettlement scheme operates through the UN refugee agency, which identifies and refers candidates for third-country resettlement.
Cooper did not specify numerical targets for the programme or provide a timeline for implementation. The Home Office has not yet released details on vetting procedures or the criteria that will be used to select refugees for resettlement in Britain.
