Around 130 Syrian refugees will be rehomed in Kirklees as part of a ‘trailblazer’ scheme – and some will be very vulnerable people.
Kirklees cabinet members agreed to take in two Syrian families before Christmas – and between 100 and 130 over the next two years.
The policy takes place as part of a Government scheme to take in 20,000 refugees nationwide from the Syrian Civil War.
Outlining the proposal Clr Erin Hill said priority would be granted to refugees who had been tortured as well as women and those with complex medical needs.
But Clr Hill warned that support services would need to be on hand.
The Labour member for Crosland Moor and Netherton said: “There would be nothing worse than taking in those individuals if we don’t have the services to support them.
“We are taking some very vulnerable people including children who have lost their whole family.
“It’s absolutely vital that we place them in an appropriate location.”
Batley West Labour councillor Shabir Pandor added that the country should be resettling more refugees.
Clr Pandor said: “It still falls short of what we would expect from a modern western democracy.
“The Government is going in the right direction but we need to take a lot more.”
