Australia Will Open Its Doors To 12,000 Syrian Refugees

The Australian government has answered the call to increase the nation’s intake of refugees in an effort to accommodate those escaping the Syrian civil war.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott today announced the decision to provide 12,000 Syrian refugees with permanent places in Australia.

Women, children and families will be prioritised.

The 12,000 spots set aside for Syrian refugees will be in addition to the year’s set limit of 13,750 places.

In three years, that number will increase to 18,750.

“This is a burden that must be shared by all governments and by the wider community,” Prime Minister Abbott said.

“The government will shortly dispatch officials to the region to begin working with the UNHCR to identify potential candidates for resettlement.

“We will move very quickly.”

Australia will also provide financial aid to support a further 240,000 Syrians.

That aid will amount to $44 million, bringing Australia’s total contribution to the United Nation’s humanitarian effort to $230 million.

The United Nations refugee agency responded positively to Australia’s pledge in a statement:

"The Prime Minister's announcement comes at a crucial time when UNHCR is stretched to capacity in meeting the needs of the most desperate.”

The PM also confirmed Australia will extend air strikes from Iraq to Syria in an ongoing mission to target the Islamic State.

The bloody Syrian civil war has seen more than 200,000 slain and an estimated four million displaced from their homes since the overthrowing of dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2011, the result of ongoing battles between Assad’s forces, the Islamic State and other rebel groups.

Refugees have flooded Europe in recent weeks, where they’ve been greeted by well-wishers.

A picture of drowned three-year-old refugee Aylan Kurdi on the coast of Turkey went viral last week and inspired an outpouring of support. For many, it gave the crisis a tragic face.