By Jessica Lepp

Info session as Kamloops prepares to welcome Syrian refugees

Dec 18, 2015 | 3:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — Residents in Kamloops and surrounding communities were encouraged to have empathy for the Syrian refugees soon to be arriving in B.C.

An information session organized by the Kamloops Immigrant Services today, gave the public a glimpse into the conditions these victims of war are fleeing from in their home country.

In the midst of the cultural displacement of millions of Syrians an information session, with guest speakers from the Syrian Canadian Council, called for unity and understanding before some of those refugees arrive in Kamloops.

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SCC President Nader Abdullah says, “ ISIS consumes the media but the Assad regime is treated as the norm. It’s not normal or acceptable for any government in the world to deploy an air force to extensively bomb its own people. But the world has decided to turn a blind eye to this crushing daily brutality and has left the Syrian people to suffer.”

Abdullah says “every day in Syria the simple decision of whether to visit a next door neighbor or to purchase bread, is a decision about life or death. Syria’s war is the worst humanitarian crisis of our time.”

In an attempt to calm concern, the Executive Director of the Kamloops Immigrant Services says refugees are ordinary people who are in major transition.

“There’s no need to be concerned if it’s a language barrier, their beliefs are pretty well the same as ours. We need to try and live our lives and help them live theirs so that we greet them in a favorable way rather than with that fear approach,” says Paul Lagace.

As groups such as R.A.F.T. – Refugees And Friends Together – expect families to arrive in the new year, sponsors were encouraged to be sensitive when welcoming the newcomers.

R.A.F.T. volunteer Sandra Holmes says, “we are very eager to make sure we welcome people correctly and I think like good mothers we might be a bit smothering but we need let people be who they are and welcome them and guide them how they want.”

Students from the Global Awareness Group at South Kamloops Secondary were also eager to learn how they could help.

Grade 11 student Simone Collier says, “it’s been a challenge trying to get people involved in what they’re doing because they have school work on their mind. I think it’s important to educate young people about what’s going on. Not just in Syria but all over the world about what’s going on because young people can make a chage.”

The second half of the event included a public forum with guest panelists including human rights lawyer Bill Sundhu.

“They (refugees) have been vetted by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Once they meet the criteria there, they are interviewed including a security clearance in the Middle East.

Hundreds of refugees have already arrived throughout Canada this month alone with thousands more expected in the new year as Ottawa commits to accepting an additional 25, 000 refugees through government sponsorships.