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Almost 2,000 men, women and children have reached Merseyside after surviving a gauntlet of militias and Mediterranean and Channel crossings in a desperate bid to find safety from trouble hotspots around the world.

Figures revealed by the Red Cross show 1,901 asylum seekers and refugees - including many from war-ravaged Syria - have been supported by the aid charity since Christmas 2013 as families fleeing terror arrive in the region.

The statistics highlight how the tragic refugee crisis is even reaching Liverpool, almost 2,500 miles from the Syrian capital Damascus, as families seek refuge on the banks of the River Mersey.

Heartbreaking pictures of those battling to reach Europe continue to shock people around the world. For some Liverpool is their final destination.

One of the areas where the British government provides accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers, the city often becomes a home for those arriving in the country after making their way across the Channel, whether by risking their lives by stowing away on lorries and trains or via other means.

The fear of living under the constant threat of poverty, starvation and gunfire means for many, the journey is a death-defying choice they feel they have to take as they seek a new life.

Last month Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson pledged to write to Theresa May, the home secretary, offering to accept 100 Syrian refugees in Liverpool, providing adequate support was offered to the council. Phil Davies, the leader of Wirral council, also offered support.

Yet there are many here already, with Syrians among the dozens of people trying to adapt to life on Merseyside and seeking the help of the Red Cross’ weekly refugee drop-in centre at St Bride’s in the city centre.

Along with people from Eritrea, those from Syria are now the most common newcomers to the centre, staffed mainly by volunteers and offering everything from advice on applications for asylum to a simple hot meal and opportunity to socialise with others who have seen their lives ruined back home.

And it is not easy for those who make it.

Commenting on the challenges facing refugees arriving in Liverpool, Edmore Hute, British Red Cross refugee service manager in the city, explained: “People who come to the Red Cross welcome drop-in centre for support after fleeing war or persecution have often lost everything and are in crisis.

“When they arrive they are disoriented, exhausted and unsure of their surroundings, only have the clothes they are wearing and they often can’t speak English. We offer them a hot meal and clothing, support them to access services to which they are legally entitled and support them to integrate and move on with their lives in the local community.”

FACTFILE

What is asylum?

Asylum is protection given by a country to someone fleeing from persecution in their own country

Who is an asylum seeker?

An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for asylum and is awaiting a decision on whether they will be granted refugee status

How do asylum seekers end up in Liverpool?

Typically, after asylum seekers have made a claim for asylum when they arrive in the UK, they go to a screening unit in Croydon where their biometric details are taken and they are issued with an application registration card which becomes their only means of identity.

They are officially registered as asylum seekers and are asked to give a brief statement outlining why they are afraid of persecution or death.

They are then taken to Liverpool, one of the cities where the Home Office provides accommodation for asylum seekers.

Is every asylum seeker in Liverpool from Syria?

No. People from all over the world apply for asylum in the UK. Government statistics show in 2014, 35% of asylum applicants were nationals of African countries, 32% were from Asian countries, 20% from the Middle East and 10% were from Europe. Of those seeking help in Liverpool, the Red Cross say the most common nationalities are currently Eritrean and Syrian.