Céad Míle Fáilte - A Community Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Céad Míle Fáilte
A Community Response to the
Syrian Refugee Crisis
Athboy

Athboy Development Forum – December 2016 - v1.4 2
History of the conflict
Pro-democracy protests erupted in March 2011 in the southern city of Deraa after the arrest and torture of
some teenagers who painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall. After security forces opened fire on
demonstrators, killing several, more took to the streets. The unrest triggered nationwide protests
demanding President Assad's resignation. The government's use of force to crush the dissent merely
hardened the protesters' resolve. By July 2011, hundreds of thousands were taking to the streets across the
country. Opposition supporters eventually began to take up arms, first to defend themselves and later to
expel security forces from their local areas.
Violence escalated and the country descended into civil war as rebel brigades were formed to battle
government forces for control of cities, towns and the countryside. Fighting reached the capital Damascus
and second city of Aleppo in 2012. By June 2013, the UN said 90,000 people had been killed in the conflict.
However, by August 2014 that figure had more than doubled to 191,000 - and continued to climb to 250,000
(50% civilians) by August 2016, according to activists and the UN. The conflict has acquired sectarian
overtones, pitching the country's Sunni majority against the president's Shia Alawite sect, and drawn in
neighbouring countries and world powers. The rise of the jihadist groups, including Islamic State, has added
a further dimension.
Almost 4 million people have fled Syria since the start of the conflict, most of them women and children. It
is one of the largest refugee exoduses in recent history. Neighbouring countries have borne the brunt of the
refugee crisis, with Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey struggling to accommodate the flood of new arrivals. The
exodus accelerated dramatically in 2013, as conditions in Syria deteriorated. A further 7.6 million Syrians
have been internally displaced within the country, bringing the total number forced to flee their homes to
more than 11 million - half the country's pre-crisis population. Overall, an estimated 12.2 million are in need
of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including 5.6 million children, the UN says. In December 2014, the
UN launched an appeal for $8.4bn (£5.6bn) to provide help to 18 million Syrians, after only securing about
half the funding it asked for in 2014. A report published by the UN in March 2015 estimated the total
economic loss since the start of the conflict was $202bn and that four in every five Syrians were now living
in poverty - 30% of them in abject poverty. Syria's education, health and social welfare systems are also in a
state of collapse.
Iran and Russia have propped up the Alawite-led government of President Assad and gradually increased
their support, providing it with an edge that has helped it make significant gains against the rebels. The
government has also enjoyed the support of Lebanon's Shia Islamist Hezbollah movement, whose fighters
have provided important battlefield support since 2013. The Sunni-dominated opposition has, meanwhile,
attracted varying degrees of support from its main backers - Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Arab
states along with the US, UK and France. However, the rise of hardline Islamist rebels and the arrival of
jihadists from across the world has led to a marked cooling of international and regional backing. The US is
now arming a 5,000-strong force of "moderate" rebels to take the fight to IS on the ground in Syria, and its
aircraft provide significant support to Kurdish militia seeking to defend three autonomous enclaves in the
country's north. Source BBC News 12
th
March 2015
The Syrian conflict
This publication by Athboy Development Forum is in response to
local community concerns of the developing Syrian refugee crisis and
their willingness to enable existing community resources to assist

History of the conflict – contd.
In October 2015, Russia began launching airstrikes at ISIS targets in Syria. The bombings have continued, so
far killing at least 2,000 civilians and forcing even more Syrians to flee for safety.
In early February 2016, fighting around Aleppo city intensified and the main route for humanitarian aid was
cut off. This has severely limited access to northern Syria having been effectively sliced in half due to the
fighting. Unfortunately hospitals have been targeted directly with many of them operating on basic
services with medical supplies including basic antibiotics unavailable. Humanitarian and relief efforts have
been severely hampered and local domestic services are restricted or now non-existent including running
water, sanitation and power.
Recent joint proposals between Russia and Syria's to set up so-called "humanitarian corridors" out of
eastern Aleppo are considered deeply flawed on humanitarian grounds and are hampered by groups such as
the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) allegedly using brutal siege tactics and illegal attacks on
civilians. Residents in Aleppo are forced to flee or stay decision without UN support on the ground to
monitor the situation and give the citizens a choice. It is important to remember the residents are families
with children, often fleeing at night to avoid snipers or to avoid young males from being kidnapped for
recruiting to fight for the regime. More than 50% of Syrian refugees are children who have lost everything.
Hundreds of thousands of refugees are also attempting the dangerous trip across the Mediterranean Sea
from Turkey to Greece, hoping to find a better future in Europe. Not all of them make it across alive. Those
who do make it to Greece still face steep challenges — resources are strained by the influx, services are
minimal and much of the route into Western Europe has been closed. There are now 4.7 million Syrians
scattered throughout the region, making them the world's largest refugee population under the United
Nations' mandate. It's the worst exodus since the Rwandan genocide 20 years ago. According to the U.N., it
will take $7.7 billion to meet the urgent needs of the most vulnerable Syrians in 2016. That equates to
approximately $8k per refugee / displaced person, not including persons that remain in war-torn areas.

Irish Government Response
Orientation Programme for Syrian Refugees in Ireland
The Hazel Hotel in Co. Kildare and the Clonea
Strand Hotel in Waterford were selected and are
being used for the temporary accommodation of
refugees displaced by the Syrian conflict.
Commencing in August 2015, initially 76 refugees
in 16 families displaced by the Syrian conflict
arrived from Lebanon. They were
accommodated in Kildare whilst undergoing
language training, orientation, medical
treatment and the children were prepared to
enter the education system. A revolving door
system was planned with new refugees arriving
as those who have been oriented are dispersed
across the country.
520 “programme refugees” were committed to
by Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald in May
2015, separate to the 600 displaced people she
committed to accepting in July 2015. This figure
was expected to be reviewed and rise
significantly following a meeting of EU justice
and home affairs ministers in Brussels on 14th
September 2015.
On 4th
September 2015 the Minister outlined that
the likely figure for Syrian refugees entering the
orientation programme would be in excess of
1,800 refugees. The Minister added that she had
received approval from the Taoiseach for
flexibility on Ireland’s response to the measures
during the meeting on the 14th
September in
order to take decisions on the day if necessary.
She said that the Irish Government was open to
working with Europe and has since agreed to
accept 4,000 refugees. However a slower than
anticipated arrival of asylum seekers from Greece
and Italy was a result of administrative issues in
those countries.
Of the 4,000 people committed to under the
September 2015 Government decision establishing
the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, 2,622 are
to be taken in under the EU relocation scheme
from Italy and Greece and 780 from Lebanon (520
of whom will arrive in 2016 and 260 in 2017) under
the refugee resettlement programme. A decision
has yet to be taken on the mechanism under which
the residual will be taken. Ireland is not at present
participating in the EU Turkey 1:1 programme as it
has no unused quota from the Council Conclusions
of 20 July 2015 on resettlement that could be used
to pledge under the first tranche of the
programme. Participation in the second tranche of
the EU Turkey 1:1 scheme will require the exercise
of an opt in.
The Irish refugee resettlement programme has
been in operation since 2000. 1,400 vulnerable
persons from 30 different countries, including Iraq
and Syria, have been resettled in Ireland to date.
Refugees have been resettled in 29 different
communities throughout Ireland and in all four
Dublin local authorities. 520 Syrian refugees are
expected to be resettled in Ireland by December
31st 2017. Despite this there is little evidence of
engagement with rural community leaders with
measures to assist the refugees to integrate into
communities and report back on the effectiveness
of any measures introduced.

Irish Government Response - Contd.
Cross-Departmental Taskforce.
A Cross Departmental Taskforce chaired by the
Department of Justice and Equality, to deal with
the operational and logistical aspects of the
support programme has been established. The
Taskforce adopted a whole of Government
approach. Its membership comprises all the main
Government Departments and State agencies as
well as the UNHCR and the Red Cross.
International Support
Ireland has also provided support with continued
Navy search and rescue missions. On 12th May
2015, Defence Minister Simon Coveney
requested and received approval from the
Cabinet for a two-month tour of duty for the
naval vessel The LÉ Eithne, on a mission to
prevent migrants from drowning in the
Mediterranean. It was the first time in the Navy’s
history that it has been involved in such an
overseas operation.
Mr. Coveney said the Navy hopes to prevent a
human catastrophe, similar to the coffin ships
which left Ireland’s shores in the 1800s, and stem
the migrant’s crisis in the Mediterranean which
has already led to the drowning in recent weeks
(April/May 2015) of 1,750 people.
The ship’s role is to save migrants, transport
them to Italian vessels or ports where they will be
temporarily housed before being given the
option of seeking asylum in the EU. During the
initial Mediterranean deployment in difficult and
demanding conditions, the LE Eithne rescued a
total of more than 3,400 migrants including
almost 170 children off the North African coast. A
2nd tour of duty was underway until November
2015. Source www.irishtimes.com
Separately, Italy has rescued about 250,000
migrants at sea in the past three years, with 20,000
in 2016 alone, with some 3,000 in one week.
Meanwhile Irish Naval vessels continued to support
rescue efforts throughout 2016 and to date had
rescued approximately 15,000 migrants from
unseaworthy crafts. Source www.military.ie
Still, smugglers profiteer from the refugee’s plight
often using brutal tactics on overcrowded barges
and various inflatable craft. Facilitating this
“service” has only served to increase the volumes
of crossings by economic migrants and or refugees
from neighbouring North African countries such as
Sudan, Niger, Nigeria and Eritrea. Judging by the
volumes the risk of staying in their home countries
far outweighs the risks in hazardous water
crossings. It would appear that the smugglers now
capitalise on the international rescue fleets and
often don’t load enough fuel on boats expecting
them to be rescued at sea. This has contributed to
5,000 drownings in 2016, 12,000 since 2014.
Additionally there has been a shortage of boats
reported as most boats take a one way journey and
those rescued are scuttled thereafter.

In his State of the EU address to the European Parliament in
Strasbourg on 9th September 2015, Mr. Juncker called for
solidarity from the EU’s 28 member states in responding to the
influx of refugees from Syria and Libya, telling MEPs: “It is not
time to take fright; it is time for humanity and human dignity.”
Mr. Juncker indicated that he wants all EU states to take part in
the new programme, saying: “I really hope that this time
everyone will be on board.” “There is a reason the number of
O’Neill’s and Murphy’s living in the US exceeds the number in
Ireland,” he added.
Mr. Juncker said that Europe was “sought worldwide as a place
of refuge”, and was seen by those fleeing Islamic State in the
Middle East as “a place of hope, a haven of stability." “This is
something to be proud of, and not something to fear,” he said.
He warned that “as long as there is war in Syria and terror in
Libya, the refugee crisis will not simply go away.”
“We can build walls and fences,” said Mr. Juncker. “But imagine
for a second if it were you, your children in your arms, the world
you know torn apart around you. There is no price you would not
pay, no wall you would not climb, no sea you would not go to sea
in, no border you would not cross.”
Mr. Juncker urged EU member states to adopt the Commission’s
proposal to increase the relocation scheme from 40,000 to
160,000 migrants currently in Italy, Greece and Hungary at a
summit of interior ministers later in September 2015.
“There is a lack
of Europe in this
union, and a
lack of union in
this union.”
- Jean-Claude Juncker
9th
September 2015
European Response
Refugee Quota Plan

Community Response
Ceád Míle Fáilte - Enabling Communities
Athboy Development Forum is a voluntary community group managed by a dedicated committee of local
persons. It has been working for approximately 20 years for the community in Athboy, increasing
opportunities for positive social interaction, assisting with the stimulation, planning and evaluation of
development ideas, including their business plans and funding proposals for those projects identified as
important towards growth within the community.
In September 2015, the committee in response to growing community concerns with the ever-growing
Syrian refugee crisis, decided to take action and enable the community of Athboy to lead the way and set a
standard for community response to the expected arrival of Syrian refugees to Ireland. Our response
entitled in Irish, “Céad Míle Fáilte,” translates to, “a hundred thousand welcomes.” The Irish people for
centuries have been renowned for the warmth of their welcome. Our community will reflect this through
adapted localised response measures to assist integration for refugees. These are designed to enable and
collate resources within the community to assist a small number of Syrian families build new lives, or offer
shelter and comfort before these families might decide to return to their home country should the crisis
end. In return our community will be enhanced by the collective approach and be proud to showcase to
other communities both domestically and across Europe that there is a Europe in local community.
Athboy Development Forum supports the “Integration Centres” view on defining integration. For example
when immigrants move to a destination country they have to find a place in that society in the practical
sense (e.g. a home, a job and income, and access to education and health services) and also in the social,
cultural and political senses. Integration might thus be defined simply as “the process of becoming an
accepted part of society,” both as an individual and as a group. The Integration Centre defines integration as
achieved “when immigrants enjoy economic, political, social and cultural equality and inclusion.” This aligns
with our Forums mission and values.
No previous integration plan was in scope for the 15.6% non-Irish national population in Athboy (national
average 12.0%), thus some of the community has been isolated as a result. Whilst we can’t offer a complete
solution to the challenges of integration for the refugees or indeed any migrant community, we can offer a
scaled and sensible approach by our community for this specific crisis and in part for the existing migrant
community. It is designed to be implemented with minimum budget and no barriers. That said
appropriate targeted funding from local government coupled with local fundraisers would enhance the
effectiveness of these measures and help drive the implementation of our Social Integration Measures
(SIM’s)© outlined below. We raised the lack of integration measures with the Local Community
Development Committee (LCDC) through a referrals register managed by the Meath Public Participation
Network (PPN). In addition Social Integration was raised as a theme during the formation of the Local
Economic and Community Plan (LECP) a draft Socio-Economic-Statement has been prepared and sets out a
vision for the County and it is hoped this will ensure focus on strategy and funding to support same is
considered. Our plan is also dependant on local Housing stock being identified and provided for use.
Measures outlined below can be adapted by any community umbrella group in Ireland or in the EU for this
and other integration measures, including offering solutions to current direct provision centres.
“Our Community is ready, is yours?”

A Community Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Social Integration Measures (SIMs)©
SIM processes in separate documents adapted for local community structure
SIM 1.1 Welcome and Settlement
“Meet and greet” session (with translator if necessary) with representatives from the community
including existing migrant population. Welcome packs (basic foods, toys, toiletries, clothing,
mobile phone / credit, bicycle/lock, maps, first aid, information leaflets in own language).
Practical assistance. English language assessment. Monthly rotating sponsor families for three
months to each refugee family, to assist community integration and report on the effectiveness
of the measures to the Forum. Assessment and preparation for work placement including
community employment schemes or local employment opportunities
SIM 1.2 Community Familiarisation
Adapted tour of the locality to include Schools, Credit Union / Bank, Post Office, Library and
amenities such as Playgrounds etc. Introduction to key representatives and community groups
e.g. Sports, Credit Union, Post Office, School Principal, Person of the Year, etc. Cultural
exchange evenings. Support from local “Hub” for internet access and literature / forms.
Representation on local community group committees.
SIM 1.3 Cultural and Ethnic Consideration
Understanding, respecting and protection of refugee’s values, beliefs, customs and practices. .
Adaptation to our culture for short or long term periods. Supporting and accommodating
religious beliefs. Understanding their socioeconomic background. A degree of adoption of
values. Avoidance of ethnic stereotyping and ethnocentrism.
SIM 1.4 Health and Wellbeing
Access to medicine or complimentary therapy. Counseling e.g. Psychotherapy. Physiotherapy.
Fitness or wellbeing programmes. Accommodating dietary and nutritional requirements locally.
Assigning a plot in our community allotments project to families. Safety and security advisories.
Peace of mind. Men’s Shed activities. Direct Mother and Baby support.
SIM 1.5 Children’s needs
Play therapy with local crèches, schooling, language training, access to local health services,
special or additional needs requirements. Social Interaction e.g. play-dates. Mental health and
or trauma assessment. Introduction to Local Library. Social skills development. Entry into local
school book scheme. Parent toddler group membership.

Athboy Development Forum
St. James Hall
Athboy
Co. Meath
Email: athboydevelopmentforum@gmail.com
+353857117448
Acknowledgements:
The Athboy Development Forum committee would like to express our gratitude to the community of
Athboy for their willingness to understand and accept responsibility to lead the way and enable resources
and local assets with no budget whatsoever. We appreciate the positivity and empathy shown by the
general community towards the Syrian community.
The Board of Management would like to extend thanks to the following contributors:
Deirdre O’Riordan
Maria Nugent
Dara Englishby
Valérie Sinople
Lydia Mulvey
Janie Walthew
Research:
The Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com
BBC News http://www.bbc.com/news
The Integration Centre http://www.integrationcentre.ie
Barnardos http://www.barnardos.ie
Dept. of Justice and Equality http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Home
The Mercy Corps https://www.mercycorps.org/
Christian Aid http://www.christianaid.org.uk/
Cover picture used with kind permission by Ian Tabbaa
“This depicts ‘Shaima’ in January 2013. She is a perhaps no older than three years old, living in the refugee
camps at the Syrian Turkish border. She is a war survivor at an early age. She sleeps in a tent with 10 people
and has little food and no toys or books.”
Compiled by Keith Mulvey v1.4 December 2016

Céad Míle Fáilte - A Community Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

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Céad Míle Fáilte - A Community Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis