MORE than 100 people met in Queen Elizabeth’s School’s Western Road campus Drama Hall on October 21 to learn more about the crisis in the Middle East and efforts being made locally to help refugees.

Rupert Poole, Principal of QE, chaired the meeting which was organised by churches in Crediton, with support from other organisations such as Sustainable Crediton, CISCO (Crediton International Social and Cultural Organisation), etc.

Jane Barham who lives near Crediton had just come back from the region where she visited refugee camps and talked to people caught up in the conflicts.

Out of a total population of 22 million in Syria, 12 million have had to leave their homes, and 4.2 million have left the country.

Europe is seen as a desirable place for Syrians and Iraquis for whom bringing up their families safely is their top priority, and they feel they have no choice but to risk the hazardous journey.

Many have an idealised picture of life in the West and some return when their expectations are not fulfilled. The majority go to camps in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Jordan where camps are well run and there is a lot of mutual support.

However the United Nations agency which runs the camps is finding it hard to find adequate resources to meet the rising demand.

The UK have put in £1.1 billion since 2012 and have offered to take 20,000 during the next five years, but are not taking any of the 800,000 to one million refugees already in Europe, unlike countries like Germany which is taking up to 200,000. Jane argued for more aid to go to Syria as well as more help on a regional level to make it easier for refugees to stay there.

David Mezzetti, a Trustee of Refugee Support Devon (RSD), said it had started in 2001 when Exeter had been designated as a dispersal centre by the Home Office.

Working with a small staff team and around 70 volunteers they support refugees and asylum seekers with legal and social problems, as well as providing some emergency financial help and running a drop in centre. Help with language training is key and Exeter College plays a role here, as well as providing computer training. And an important part of their work is public education and countering many of the negative media images of refugees and asylum seekers.

Exeter is likely to be asked to help again with asylum seekers, and will receive Home Office funding, and so RSD is gearing up to provide support.

Mid Devon District Council is waiting for more information from the Home Office but is compiling a list of offers of accommodation. (Contact Michael Parker at MDDC on 01884-255255 if you are able to help). They have calculated that outside Plymouth and Torbay, six people per year may be housed within the rest of Devon.

It was clear from the questions that people wanted refugees to be made welcome in Devon and anger was expressed by some at the small number that might come to Devon, given the large numbers involved.

On the issue of possible bombing raids into Syria, the speakers felt this would not help the people and would make a bad situation even worse.

Rupert Poole said that QE was exploring the possibility of the boarding house at QE helping some of the refugee orphans.

A retiring collection raised more than £240 which was split between Save the Children and Refugee Support Devon. For further details visit: www.refugeesupportdevon.org.uk .

A number of people expressed interest in further activity, including talks by Syrians living in Exeter and this will be publicised in the "Courier".

Gerald Conyngham

(on behalf of the planning group)