Refugees rebuild lives after horrors of war-torn Syria

Plans to resettle 20,000 in the UK

Refugees from Syria are rebuilding their lives in Ashford after their harrowing experiences fleeing the conflict.

They are being resettled as part of a government programme to give sanctuary to 20,000 people from officially designated refugee camps surrounding the devastated country.

Ashford Borough Council joined the programme in October last year, agreeing to resettle 250 refugees before 2020, and in the first year 33 people have arrived.

Among the first arrivals are a family who lost one of their children and who are now seeking to rebuild their life in Ashford.

At a cabinet meeting last week council leader Gerry Clarkson said: “Last week we had a meeting of a group of Syrian families here in the council chamber.

“Their first questions are about when their children can go to school, where can they learn English and when can they work. It was an absolute joy to see the little children in the chamber, not just singing, but singing in English, especially considering that one of them had lost her little sister in the camps no more than six months ago.”

Ashford has been at the forefront of local authorities in Kent offering to support refugees, with funds provided by the government.

They are housed in private accommodation so they are not having any impact on the council housing register, and they do not get preferential access to benefits or other council services.

Now the council has appealed for more private landlords to come forward to provide accommodation for the new arrivals.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Paul Clokie said: “We hope to encourage more homeowners and those with properties to make them available.”

Anyone who can offer space in a property can email abclettings@ ashford.gov.uk or call 01233 330378 The National Audit Office says the country is on track to reach its interim target of rehousing 1,000 Syrians before Christmas.

The government plans to provide resettlement for up to 20,000 Syrians who are currently in camps in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey. It is estimated the total cost of the scheme will reach £1.7 billion.

Meanwhile county council bosses say the scheme to transfer unaccompanied children seeking asylum is not working.

KCC looks after 140 children from countries around the world, but says just 48 have been transferred to other local authorities.

Peter Oakford, cabinet member for children’s services, said authorities were not stepping up to help.