Sheffield plays its part in Syria refugee crisis

Sheffield will continue to play its part in nationwide efforts to home desperate refugees fleeing Syria.
Syrians gather at the Bab al-Salam border gate with Turkey, in Syria, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016.  Some thousands of Syrians have rushed toward the Turkish border, fleeing fierce Syrian government offensives and intense Russian airstrikes. Turkey has promised humanitarian help for the displaced civilians, including food and shelter, but it did not say whether it would let them cross into the country. (AP Photo/Bunyamin Aygun) TURKEY OUTSyrians gather at the Bab al-Salam border gate with Turkey, in Syria, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016.  Some thousands of Syrians have rushed toward the Turkish border, fleeing fierce Syrian government offensives and intense Russian airstrikes. Turkey has promised humanitarian help for the displaced civilians, including food and shelter, but it did not say whether it would let them cross into the country. (AP Photo/Bunyamin Aygun) TURKEY OUT
Syrians gather at the Bab al-Salam border gate with Turkey, in Syria, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Some thousands of Syrians have rushed toward the Turkish border, fleeing fierce Syrian government offensives and intense Russian airstrikes. Turkey has promised humanitarian help for the displaced civilians, including food and shelter, but it did not say whether it would let them cross into the country. (AP Photo/Bunyamin Aygun) TURKEY OUT

Earlier this month Sheffield Council pledged to house 75 refugees in the city every year between now and 2019.

The costs to take in the 225 refugees, who have all fled war-torn Syria, will be entirely funded by central Government.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coun Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for housing, said: “Sheffield is a welcoming city with a strong tradition of helping those fleeing persecution. The situation in Syria is of real concern and we, along with all the other authorities in the Yorkshire and Humber region, will be resettling Syrian refugees.

“The support provided to people will be directly funded by the Government. This is essential because we know, through our experiences over the last decade, that we need resources in place to support people.”

In September last year, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to take 20,000 Syrians by 2020.

The Government promised to resettle the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, bringing people to the UK who have fled the war and are temporarily based in neighbouring countries.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sheffield will be working alongside all areas in Yorkshire and The Humber to honour the pledge

The council said 48 Syrian refugees have settled in Sheffield since September 2015.

The violence in Syria began in March 2011 and the middle eastern country has been crippled by a brutal civil war ever since.

Since then, the United Nations estimates more than 250,000 people have died in the conflict.

The UN’s Refugee Agency says more than four million people have fled Syria and over half of those are children.