WEST Somerset will do all that it can to help out in the Syrian refugee crisis but would “struggle” to find enough resources, according to the area’s MP.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees are fleeing the country as fighting and violence escalates and are seeking refuge in countries across Europe.
The UK Government has pledged to take in 20,000 refugees from Syria before 2020, but it remains to be seen whether West Somerset will be asked to host any of them.
Charities and community groups in the area have now launched collection campaigns for people to donate clothes or money to send to the camps to try and help out.
West Somerset’s MP, Ian Liddell-Grainger, believes the area would struggle to deliver the required resources.
He said: “We face many challenges at the moment in looking after our own people, whether it is our schools, hospitals or housing. We are not a big area and therefore we would find it extremely hard to provide what they need.
“We would find it very difficult to place them and look after their needs as we are already short of resources and it is hard to look after our own people.
“Would they want to come to West Somerset if we would struggle to provide for them.”
This week David Cameron said the Government cannot force councils to accept refugees but local authorities will be given help and it will be funded out of the UK’s £12bn international aid budget.
Leader of West Somerset Council, Anthony Trollope-Bellew, said the council would not act until it was clear what the Government was going to propose. He said: “This is a shocking situation and our thoughts go out to the people involved.
“West Somerset Council is fully supportive of any requirements in regard to providing sanctuary for Syrian refugees.”
Former mayor of Minehead and UKIP representative on West Somerset Council Terry Venner said:
“If it is genuine refugees then I have no problem at all, the UK has always had an open door for people who are suffering from persecution, whether it is religious, political or otherwise. The only problem we have is providing housing to help them. We already have more than 800 people on the waiting list and it could cause a bit of resentment if refugees were suddenly housed.”
British Red Cross is currently accepting donations. The Gazette supports the appeal and to donate, call 0300 023 0825 or visit redcross.org.uk/refugeecrisis.