The Prime Minister, John Key, announced yesterday that New Zealand will take some Syrian refugees.
Every evening, we see on our television screens, thousands of Syrian refugees wanting to reach Germany. We also know that Germany needs help to take some of these refugees. The numbers are huge. Maybe 800,000 in Germany. The British Prime Minister announced that Britain would take 20,000 over the next 5 years, but from refugee camps on the borders of Syria. France will take 25,000. Greece has 25,000 at the moment on the island of Lesbos. Australia is expected to make an announcement tomorrow.
New Zealand will take 750 Syrians over the next two and a half years. 600 of these will be extra to our usual quota of 750 a year. The other 150 will be part of our annual quota. The 600 extra places will cost $48.8 million dollars. The annual quota of 750 costs $58 million. Wellington will probably be the home for most of these refugees as there is already a Syrian community there.
New Zealand will also give $4.5m to refugee camps on the borders of Syria. New Zealand is on the UN Security Council at the moment so we cannot ignore the problem in Syria.
Listen to Can we take more refugees? for more about NZ’s refugee policy.
Vocabulary
• huge – very, very big
• quota – maximum number
• ignore – do nothing
Questions
1. The government says it costs $58m to take refugees. What is included in the cost?
2. What are the benefits for New Zealand?
3. What do you think will be difficult for Syrians in New Zealand? (e.g. English, religion, housing, the weather)
4. Is it different for refugees than for migrants to settle in New Zealand?
5. What can be done to stop these refugees from arriving in Europe?