Thanking people in Oxfordshire for their support for Afghan refugees

People in Oxfordshire who donated items to help those currently being evacuated from Afghanistan are being thanked for their warm-hearted reaction to the situation.

The generosity of Oxfordshire people to date means that no further donations are needed just now. Some of the items donated have already been distributed and gratefully received by arrivals at RAF Brize Norton from Afghanistan over recent days.

The county council will be working closely with the district councils and the city councils in coming days and weeks as the situation develops.

Councillor Liz Leffman, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said “Our communities have recently provided amazing support for Syrian refugees, and during the Covid pandemic. It is heartening to see yet again this tremendous support from the residents and businesses of Oxfordshire, and I would like to thank the numerous people across the County who have come forward with donations and offers of help.

“Our new arrivals will have been through a traumatic experience and we need to ensure that they are treated with dignity. Support needs to be planned and managed to meets their needs.

“We have already been overwhelmed with donations and we are sorting through these to allocate them according to family needs, We therefore do not require any further donations at the moment, but as we identify specific requirements, we will put out requests for these.”

Further information on support for refugees in Oxfordshire can be found here: County council joins efforts to support Afghan refugees (oxfordshire.gov.uk)