Syrian refugee resettlement programme must not abandon torture survivors

A reported 55% of the Syrians who have been given protection in the UK under the Syrian resettlement programme are torture survivors, according to the National Audit Office.

Today’s report by the NAO highlights concerns of human rights charity Freedom from Torture that these vulnerable people are not able to access specialist help so that they can begin a journey of rehabilitation and rebuilding their shattered lives.

The report published today is a review of the progress of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS). Freedom from Torture provided input to the report after raising repeatedly with the former Minister for Syrian Refugees the need to ensure that all of those resettled under this scheme can access specialist support including torture rehabilitation.

Without these services it can be difficult for survivors to address the trauma that they have faced and to access other opportunities that are being provided by the scheme such as English language lessons. Since the launch of the Scheme we have received only a few referrals for resettled Syrians and we are concerned that many more are being resettled in areas where they cannot access support.

This report highlights that our concerns are shared by local authorities, who highlighted that those refugees with physical or mental health needs need substantial support, especially in the long-term, which is not covered by existing funding arrangements.

Susan Munroe, Freedom from Torture Chief Executive, said:

“Freedom from Torture welcomes the UK’s commitment to provide sanctuary to torture survivors and other vulnerable Syrians through this programme and meet its arguably modest goal of accepting 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020.

Freedom from Torture is the only UK-based human rights organisation dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of torture survivors. We know that torture is widespread in Syria and this scheme has as its objective to help the most vulnerable so we are surprised not to have seen many more of those who have been moved to the UK being referred to our centres around the country. Survivors require specialist treatment which the NHS does not offer but has worked for many years with organisations like ours to provide.

As the National Audit Office report highlights, torture survivors risk being either identified too late or missed entirely. We believe the government needs to immediately improve its coordination with specialist voluntary sector providers such as ours who can meet the long-term, specialist services required.

The report states that the amount of funding given to local authorities to support each refugee will be reviewed after the programme has been in operation for a year. We strongly recommend that mental health services are included in this review without delay so that torture survivors coming in the next wave of the refugee resettlement scheme get the vital support and services they need and deserve.’’