THE tale of how a group of ordinary residents transformed themselves into a fundraising and welcoming organisation dedicated to easing the horrors of war for Syrian refugees was told to Redditch Kingfisher Rotarians on Tuesday.
Naeem Arif, chairman of Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcomes Refugees (BRWR), told how as the war unfolded on TV screens across the globe, people of all faiths and no faith and from all backgrounds at a local level came together to help.
“For hundreds of years Jews, Christians and Muslims has lived together in harmony in Syria, a country of 23 million,” said Mr Arif.
“However, when the conflict started in 2011 it destroyed the very fabric of society, putting 13.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance with more than 4.7 million fleeing the country of their birth.”
Nearly three million went to Turkey, just over one million to the EU while America accepted just 10,000.
Britain, under former Prime Minister David Cameron, agreed to accept 20,000 with the bulk of the British effort going to fund refugee camps in the Middle East.
Of the 20,000 heading for the UK, Worcestershire agreed to take 200, with Redditch, Kidderminster and Worcester taking the initial group.
While they waited for the first refugees, BRWR started monthly clothing collections for the camps in Calais and Dunkirk through the Malvern-based charity People in Motion. To date, local people have donated in excess of 6,000 bags.
“We’ve collected tents – one of the most vital things – on a Saturday and by Sunday they can be in France and in use,” said Mr Arif.
So far Redditch and Kidderminster have accepted 17 individuals each, with 30 going to Worcester. Three more families are expected soon. All are being housed privately so there is no pressure on local housing services.
The response from the Redditch community has been exceptional with religious lines becoming totally blurred, the refugees celebrating the Muslim festival of Eid at the Ecumenical Centre, a Harvest Festival at Cookhill Baptist Church and Christmas in Redditch Mosque. The Sikh community too has added its support.
Fundraising continues to provide essentials like dignity packs for the newcomers.
However, Mr Arif said all of the refugees, while grateful for the support they have received, fully intend to return to their own country.
“Of course while they are here they want to work and study. However, they are deeply imbued with their own culture and all want to go back,” he said.
BRWR is holding a fund-raising concert a week next Wednesday, February 22 at Artrix in Bromsgrove. For tickets, priced £15, call 01527 577330.
n Redditch Kingfisher Rotarians meet weekly at the Southcrest Hotel in Redditch at 7.15pm on Tuesday evenings. Visit http://bit.ly/2kqK4YU for more details.
