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Syrian refugees coming to Valley

Summerland United Church is preparing to welcome a Syrian refugee family to Canada.

The family of five is part of the 10,000 Syrian refugees the federal government is taking in over the next three years.

"There are millions of people around the world displaced from their homes living in refugee camps, because of war and violence, political or social oppression," said David Sparks, co-chair of the sponsorship committee. "We will enable one refugee family to escape the danger, uncertainty and fear and give them a safe home.”

The family coming to Summerland is from a region of Syria that has seen some of the most intense fighting in the civil war raging there.

The family had to flee their home for their own safety as fighting between rebel and government forces made daily life dangerous.

They eventually fled to safety in Jordan and have been placed on a list of people approved to be resettled in Canada.

Rev. Armand Houle, minister of Summerland United, says the United Church of Canada has a history of sponsoring and welcoming refugees.

"Whether it was the Vietnamese boat people, Bosnian refugees or people fleeing the violence and oppression in some Latin American countries, United Church congregations across Canada, have been in the forefront of sponsoring and welcoming newcomers to Canada," he said.

The timeline of the arrival of the family; father, mother, two teenage daughters and a nine-year-old son, is not clear at this time. They are expected to be here in two to three months, but it could happen as quickly as one.

The three most pressing issues the sponsorship committee is dealing with are locating rental accommodation for the family, identifying someone in the area who speaks Arabic, and meeting costs for their first year in Canada.

Individuals from Penticton to West Kelowna are also supporting the initiative.

“It is our hope the entire community will get involved. It really is Summerland United Church and friends who are sponsoring this family,” said Houle. “Summerland is such a great community, with a strong spirit of neighbour helping neighbour, whether locally or globally. We know that this family will find a warm and supportive welcome in our community as they start a new life in Canada.”

Anyone with a lead on suitable accommodation or knowledge of local Arabic speakers is asked to call 250-494-1514 or email [email protected].



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