Theresa May pledges extra £30MILLION to protect refugees as UK contribution soars to £100M
THERESA May has revealed a package of more than £30 million in UK aid to protect refugees from trafficking and violence.
The UK has now contributed more than £100 million to tackling the migrant crisis
The prime minister announced the new funding at a European Union summit in Malta today.
The sum will bring the total UK humanitarian support in response to the Mediterranean migrant crisis to more than £100 million since October 2015.
However it means refugees heading to Europe after fleeing war-torn countries such as Iraq and Syria will be urged to settle in Asia and Latin America instead.
The move is based on an existing scheme run by the United Nation's refugee agency the UNHCR, but it is the first time Britain’s aid budget has been used to bolster it.
Theresa May's pledge came during an informal summit in Malta today
Cash will go towards measures to protect vulnerable migrants
UK funding has already helped countries like Greece and the Balkan states as they struggle to deal with the millions of migrants crossing their borders each year, fleeing war zones in a desperate bid to reach mainland Europe.
Along with supporting border controls, cash has been used to help integrate refugees - many of which are Muslim - into local communities and society.
Now Theresa May has pledged an extra £30 million to support the crisis - and will use the financial boost to offer assistance to countries in Asia and Latin America in return for these states taking on refugees.
Through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' (UNHCR) Emerging Resettlement Countries Joint Support Mechanism (ERCM), countries that do not have the necessary infrastructure and systems in place to receive new arrivals will be help to put the required facilities in place.
International Development Secretary Priti Patel said: "Global Britain is stepping up its support for the most vulnerable refugees who are at risk and need our help.
"Conflict, drought and political upheaval have fuelled protracted crises and driven mass migration. We cannot ignore these challenges.
"This latest support from the UK will help those who decide they want to return home to do so safely, protect men, women and children from exploitation, and ensure that those caught in freezing conditions get the basic help they need to survive."
Millions of refugees crossed Germany's borders under Merkel's open door policy
And the package will also see Britain provide life-saving supplies to protect vulnerable migrants from freezing conditions and the threat of people-trafficking and sexual violence.
But the Prime Minister insisted the focus of the £30m programme was “helping migrants return home rather than risk their lives continuing perilous journeys to Europe”.
It is believed the cash boost would provide assistance to refugees and migrants across Greece, the Balkans, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Sudan.
However the move risks adding to criticism the Prime Minister is unwilling to accept what is seen as 'Britain's share' of the refugees.
Theresa May arrives at Valletta summit of EU leaders
Theresa May has pledged an extra £30 million to support the migrant crisis
Only a few thousand Syrians have been resettled in Britain – and the Government continues to refuse to take part in the EU-wide programme to co-ordinate the continent’s response to the crisis.
Government sources stressed that people would only be diverted to countries in Asia and Latin America if they were willing to be resettled there.
In addition to this new package of £30.3 million, the UK has set up an £8 million special protection fund to keep women and girl refugees in the Mediterranean region safe from trafficking, violence and exploitation.
A further £2million has been pledge towards the humanitarian response inside Libya, and Britain has also vowed to use £2.3 billion for the crisis in Syria.
Mrs May said the migrant crisis was the "biggest challenge facing Europe"
Mrs May promised £517,000 towards training for Libyan coastguards
Mrs May told her fellow EU leaders that the migrant crisis was the "biggest challenge facing Europe" during the summit session considering the issue.
She said lessons could be learned from the EU-Turkey deal but stressed it could not be simply replicated with North African countries such as Libya which is the departure point for many vessels risking the dangerous voyage across the Mediterranean.
Mrs May promised 600,000 euros (£517,000) to the next training package for the Libyan coastguard.
The Prime Minister also stressed her view that swift returns of those with no right to be in Europe sent a "powerful signal of deterrence", Downing Street said.
Indicating that cooperation would continue beyond Brexit, she insisted that the UK would remain a "reliable partner" to the EU on the agenda.