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Ireland: Kurdish refugees looking forward
to their arrival in Sligo 'paradise'
20.9.2006 |
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Sligo, Ireland,
-- Refugee Omar Ahmadi, a Kurdish Iranian is keen to
start his new life in Sligo and is one of 62 who are
grateful for the chance to escape the camps of
Jordan and Iraq.
Sligo will welcome 62 Kurdish Iranian nationals and
it will add another dimension to the growing
international flavour of the population.
Omar Ahmadi said he was looking forward to settling
in to Sligo. Although expressing remorse at leaving
his friends behind in a place where they risked
their lives every day, he was hopeful at what Sligo
would have in store for him.
He said: “It feels like we have been born again and
given a new chance at life.
“This country is like paradise for us and it is our
dream to become true members of Irish society and we
hope our children will enjoy their lives together
and be given the opportunities we never had.”
Sarah Wetherald, community welfare officer with
Sligo Leader Partnership, has had the opportunity to
meet and work with the group and has identified that
what was immediately obvious was their delight to be
in Ireland and their expectations of moving to
Sligo.
She said: “From talking to the group it is
impossible not to notice the sheer sense of relief
and optimism. They are grateful for the chance that
has been given to them and are eager to stress that
they do not intend to waste the opportunity to start
their lives again.
“There are obviously still fears, questions and
uncertainty about what they will face next but
hopefully Sligo will do its best to alleviate these
and welcome them into the community.”
The arrival of these refugees is part of a worldwide
resettlement programme, which is co-ordinated with
UNHCR. This new Sligo group represents the second
phase of the 2006 resettlement programme which will
see a total of 200 refugees resettled in this
country this year.
The group arrived in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo where
they are undergoing an orientation programme, which
lasts for two weeks. Once they are finished this
programme, they will start to settle into their new
lives in Sligo.
Enormous support for this move has already been
given from local families who have registered with
the Sligo Volunteer Bureau under the ‘Befriending
Programme.’
This action will see local families acting as
mentors to the Kurdish
arrivals, assisting them in their integration into
society through various activities.
sligoweekender ie
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