Home Secretary: UK taking immediate action to rescue injured children from Gaza

The Home Secretary has confirmed the UK is taking “immediate action” to rescue children who have been seriously injured in the “horrendous onslaught on civilians” in Gaza.

Addressing the Commons on the government’s asylum plans, Yvette Cooper also confirmed the Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas with biometric checks conducted before arrival for children and “their immediate accompanying family members”.

Cooper said the government had taken similar steps to ensure that Gaza students on fully funded scholarships for places at UK universities could start their studies here this autumn.

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The announcement on Gaza came as Cooper had earlier said the government will temporarily suspend new refugee family reunion applications in an “overhaul” of the asylum system.

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Without disclosing numbers, Cooper said the UK is “taking immediate action to rescue children who have been seriously injured in the horrendous onslaught on civilians in Gaza so they can get the health treatment they need.”

She added: I can confirm that the Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for children and their immediate accompanying family members.

“And we have done the same with all the Chevening scholars and are in the process of doing so now, for the next week, of students from Gaza who have been awarded fully funded scholarships and places at UK universities, so they can start their studies in autumn this year.”

Downing Street has previously refused to give a “running commentary” on steps being taken to bring sick Gazan children to the UK. ‘No running commentary’ on sick Gazan kids brought to UK says Downing Street

Cooper also added:”“And later this year, we will set out plans to establish a permanent framework for refugee students to come study in the UK, so we can help more talented young people fleeing war and persecution to find a better future alongside capped and managed ways for refugees to work here in the UK.”

Cooper said the Government will use “legal and controlled support” to help people fleeing persecution.

She told the Commons: “We will continue to do our bit to support Ukraine, extending the Ukraine permission extension scheme by a further 24 months, with further details to be set out in due course.”

Earlier she said the government wants to change the family reunion rules for asylum seekers.

“The current rules for family reunion for refugees were designed many years ago to help families separated by war, conflict and persecution, but the way they are now being used has changed,” she told MPs.

“We continue to believe that families staying together is important, and it’s why we will seek to prioritise family groups among the applicants to come to Britain under our new deal with France,” Cooper added.

“But reforms are needed. So, with our asylum policy statement later this year, we will set out a new system for family migration, including looking at contribution requirements, longer periods before newly granted refugees can apply, and dedicated controlled arrangements for unaccompanied children and for those fleeing persecution who have family in the UK. And we aim to have some of those changes in place for the spring.”

On efforts being taken to close asylum hotels, Cooper said the Government is reconfiguring sites, tightening the test for accommodation and working “at pace” to identify more appropriate accommodation, as well as working on clearing the backlog.