By Saul Cooke-Black
THE FIRST refugees fleeing war-torn Syria are set to arrive in Gloucestershire within weeks.
It follows the government’s commitment to taking 20,000 Syrian refugees into the country over the next 5 years.
Three families from Syria are set to arrive in the county before Christmas, with the first coming to Gloucester on December 15.
Between five and ten families are expected to arrive in Stroud in the next 12 months, with the first coming after the New Year.
Councillor Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We have been working closely with the district councils and the GARAS charity to see how we could respond to the government’s commitment to bring the first families out of the refugee camps before Christmas.
“The first family will come to Gloucester, with the second and third to Cheltenham.
"This is the early stages of the government’s commitment and we would expect to receive more families as time passes.
"Gloucestershire is united in its support, and I have been really impressed with how positively everyone has responded.
"Councillors, staff, local people - we are all in this together, to help change the lives of those fleeing the horrific events in Syria."
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