Media release
New Zealand Red Cross
30 January 2017

Red Cross responds to Prime Ministers comments on the United States refugee programme suspension

New Zealand Red Cross is encouraged by the Prime Minister’s response to the suspension of the United States refugee programme and would like to see a practical response from New Zealand through an emergency refugee intake.

“We agree that it is the kiwi way to welcome refugees and believe that New Zealand has been a world leader in this regard,” says Anne Smith, acting Secretary General of New Zealand Red Cross.

In the current global climate support for refugees, and upholding obligations to protect them, has never been more important.

Long conflicts around the world have exacted a terrible price on civilians, among them high numbers of women and children and Red Cross is concerned that the current refugee quota in New Zealand does not match the global humanitarian need.

“The majority of refugees are women and children, an emergency intake could assist some of these families who are most vulnerable,” says Mrs Smith.

As the primary provider of refugee resettlement support in Aotearoa, Red Cross is confident that New Zealand has the capacity to do more to meet the ongoing humanitarian need.

“The continual offers of support we have from kiwis demonstrates that people care about what’s happening on the global stage and want to help.”

New Zealand has a world class refugee resettlement programme which means we are in a position to respond to urgent humanitarian need. An emergency intake now is both possible and urgently required.

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REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT IN NZ
• New Zealand welcomes 1000 people per year under its refugee quota programme. This number includes an emergency intake of 750 Syrian refugees over the next 3 years in response to the crisis
• 98 Syrian families were resettled in New Zealand in 2016
• Refugee are resettled in six locations around New Zealand: Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Nelson, and Dunedin
• Almost 800 Kiwis volunteer their time with Red Cross refugee resettlement programmes
• People can apply to be a refugee support volunteer in one of our resettlement locations by visiting www.redcross.org.nz

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