Finland Times

 

A general view of a refugee camp for Syrian Kurdish refugees on February 2, 2015, at Suruc, in Sanliurfa. File Photo AFP- LEHTIKUVA.

The government on Monday decided to raise the refugee quota for 2015 from 750 to 1,050 persons.

This means that the government will this year take additional 300 refugees than had previously planned.

The proposal was on Monday part of the government's draft on supplementary budget.

The need for the additional appropriations is estimated at 1.5 million euros.

A refugee woman and children warm up around a fire at a camp housing Syrian families who fled their worn torn country on January 8, 2015 in the village of Wazzani, near the border between Lebanon and Israel. File Photo AFP- LEHTIKUVA.

Defence Minister Carl Haglund termed the decision a victory to humane and responsible policy.

The Minister said the situation in Syria is extremely difficult and pointed out that the United Nations has repeatedly urged the country to raise its refugee quota.

According to Haglund, the decision is important and in the long term the refugee quota has to be raised considerably and permanently.

The draft will head to the parliament on Thursday.