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Refugee crisis

Published: 16/09/2015

Flintshire County Council last week made an immediate and firm commitment to being part of the UK local government response to receiving refugees fleeing the Syrian conflict. Council Leader Aaron Shotton said today ( September 15) : As we witness the unfolding tragedy of refugees fleeing war and persecution in search of sanctuary in Europe, it is imperative that Local Government across Wales takes action to provide safety and shelter for refugees displaced from Syria and other nations. Flintshire County Council will not turn its back on those facing a humanitarian crisis. The Council is currently working with national partners to offer direct assistance. We will be taking a full part in a united approach by councils and housing aid agencies and voluntary sector partners across Wales and the UK to both provide refuge and humanitarian support for refugees. We encourage the communities of Flintshire both to support our stance and to donate money and supplies to the charitable work of the leading national aid agencies. “Local government is awaiting the publication of the new UK Government scheme for refugee dispersal and support. “The Council has set up a response group, led by the Chief Executive, and is working with and advising the Welsh Local Government Association who are co-ordinating the regional response, with Welsh Government, on behalf of Wales. The response group is a multi-agency one and includes Flintshire Local Voluntary Council. “Local government expects the scheme to be fully funded at a national level”. Chief Executive, Colin Everett said: “In Flintshire we plan to receive a number of families each year. The families would be housed and supported in private rented housing with no direct impact on waiting lists and times for Council and social housing. The bigger challenge will be to integrate children into schools with full language and curriculum support, and to integrate families into local communities remembering that people will be mentally and emotionally scarred by the experience and will be in need of empathy and support. “At this stage we have no timetable for the admission of the first refugees into the United Kingdom, so can only plan.”