What is needed to help thousands of Syrian refugees expected in Metro Vancouver?

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A clearer picture is coming in of what Metro Vancouver is going to need in order to help the influx of Syrian refugees expected soon.

About 1,500 housing units are needed throughout Metro Vancouver. That includes those who have a spare room or a basement suite — even a room on a religious property would work.

“We’re looking for as long as possible but under the circumstances, if it’s just for a couple of months, that would be better than nothing at all. We want to provide these families with some sort of normalcy that they haven’t had in years,” explains Chris Friesen, director of the Immigrant Services Society Settlement of BC.

“At the end of the day, it is better to have somebody on a cot in a community centre gym than another night in a tent freezing in the Middle East.”

Friesen says trauma counsellors are in high demand, as well.

“It is estimated that two thirds will experience mental health issues. According to reports out of Germany and our colleagues in Europe, up to one third may suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”

For those who can’t help with housing or counselling, there’s also a need for people to help the refugees settle. That would include things like showing them how to use transportation and how to get to community centres.

“We must remember that they did not choose to come to BC but they were forced to, leaving behind everything we often take for granted in this country. It is only by working together that we will be able to address these challenges head on and, in a bold humanitarian gesture to the lucky few, help respond to the worst refugee crisis since the second world war.”

Number of refugees expected in each city:
Surrey – 820
Coquitlam – 595
Burnaby – 540
Vancouver – 270
New Westminster – 120

Click here to find out more about how you can help.

Work happening at the provincial level

The cities say they need it, but will the support from the provincial government be there? There is some work happening behind the scenes.

The BC government is meeting with refugee support groups and there is a lot of planning going on.

Jobs and Tourism Minister Shirley Bond says they’re stuck waiting until the federal government provides details. “We need to have a better sense of first of all, when they’re arriving, who is going to be coming, and where they are going to be located.”

NDP Health Critic Judy Darcy says the plan can’t rely on only the resources we already have. “The organizations that serve refugees are stretched to the maximum and we have as many as 3,000 or more coming.”

Minister Bond hopes to share details of their work in the next few weeks.

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