Final arrangements in place for the arrival of the Syrian refugees: Storey

Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, has said that the final preparations for the arrival of Syrian refugees to Northern Ireland have been completed.

The Minister has thanked all those involved for putting in place the necessary arrangements to welcome the 51 refugees.

The first group of refugees will arrive later today and will be made up of 10 families. They will travel to Northern Ireland as part of a Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Person Relocation scheme.

Minister Storey said: “I am proud of the role Northern Ireland is playing as part in this major humanitarian effort.

“I have been impressed by the commitment of staff in my Department to work with others and put in place the necessary arrangements to welcome to refugees to Northern Ireland and to help them settle here as quickly as possible.

The Minister concluded: “I visited the welcome centre earlier today where the refugees will be staying for their first few days and had the opportunity to meet the staff who will be helping the families settle into their new surroundings. The families who will be travelling to Northern Ireland are very much in need and we have a responsibility to reach out the hand of friendship and help them adjust to a new life.”

Notes to editors: 

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