Oxfam Cymru statement in reaction to latest Home Office figures on Syrian refugee resettlement in Wales

Following the release of Home Office data showing that 34 refugees from war-torn Syria were resettled in Wales between April and June this year – bringing the total to 112 by the end of June 2016 – Matthew Hemsley, Oxfam Cymru Campaigns and Advocacy Manager said:

“We welcome the fact that more families have been brought to safety here and we know that more refugees from Syria have arrived over the summer. Yet we cannot ignore how painfully slow the resettlement process still is in Wales – in the time we’ve resettled 34 refugees, Scotland has welcomed 249 and Northern Ireland 104.

“As the image of dazed and bloodied five-year-old Omran Daqneesh reminded the world only last week, the refugee crisis is going nowhere. And while there is some improvement in terms of numbers resettled here, there is no doubt that Wales still could and should do more to help families who have seen their lives torn apart by this war.

“We know the will is there; all Welsh local authorities have already committed to take part in the Home Office-funded scheme. Now we must see haste, with the Welsh Government and local authorities working closely together to speed up the process.”