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Wales is 'preparing the ground' for refugees, says Carwyn Jones | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Wales is "preparing the ground" so it is ready to receive refugees when they arrive, the first minister has said. | |
Carwyn Jones hosted a summit on resettling refugees and how to respond to the current crisis. | |
"Traumatised" people would require counselling, their health requirements but also the skills they were bring with them would be considered, he said. | |
Mr Jones said a "task force" of relevant agencies would deal with the key issues so Wales is prepared. | |
He said the taskforce would "ensure that when we know the numbers and the needs of the people that come we're ready to receive them". | |
The Welsh government, local councils, the Red Cross and Welsh Refugee Council were among those who took in the summit. | |
On Tuesday, First Minister Carwyn Jones told AMs that "in principle" he backed a quota system to decide how many refugees each UK nation should take. | On Tuesday, First Minister Carwyn Jones told AMs that "in principle" he backed a quota system to decide how many refugees each UK nation should take. |
Councils have pledged to "play their part" but asked for help with costs. | Councils have pledged to "play their part" but asked for help with costs. |
David Cameron has said the UK will take up to 20,000 refugees over the next five years. | David Cameron has said the UK will take up to 20,000 refugees over the next five years. |
A Welsh government spokeswoman said the summit was "bringing together key agencies and service providers to develop a co-ordinated Wales-wide response to the crisis". | A Welsh government spokeswoman said the summit was "bringing together key agencies and service providers to develop a co-ordinated Wales-wide response to the crisis". |
One Syrian refugee, who met Welsh government ministers at the Senedd on Wednesday, said nobody was leaving the country for money and they only wanted a "safe life". | |
Mansour Abo-Halawa, 25, owned a small farm and was studying at university when the war put a halt to his education. | |
He told BBC Radio Wales what people see in the media is a small snapshot of a situation he describes as "so bad". | |
"Everyone wants to have a safe life. Nobody wants to die", he said, adding: "They don't come for money, they want a nice life." | |
Mr Abo-Halawa described his home country as "beautiful" and said, given a choice, most refugees would choose to stay if it was possible. | |
Home Secretary Theresa May has announced that the first Syrian refugees to be taken in under the UK government's expanded resettlement scheme will arrive in Britain "in the coming days". | Home Secretary Theresa May has announced that the first Syrian refugees to be taken in under the UK government's expanded resettlement scheme will arrive in Britain "in the coming days". |
Welsh Refugee Council estimates Wales could give sanctuary to about 1,600 Syrians. | Welsh Refugee Council estimates Wales could give sanctuary to about 1,600 Syrians. |
Mr Jones has previously said Wales could accept 500-600 refugees. | Mr Jones has previously said Wales could accept 500-600 refugees. |