Letter: UK not welcoming enough refugees
There has been much in the press about the plight of refugees, in particular those from Syria.
The people there have had their houses and towns bombed, and their families murdered if they speak out against the regime there, and for many other reasons.
There are thousands of refugees escaping via dangerous routes, not knowing if they and their family are going to reach safety. But they still find these methods preferable to staying in an unstable country – and I for one agree that should my family be in danger, I would try to get to safety.
Here in Powys we are safe from all this – and from social media, in particular in Llanidloes, it appears that we would welcome refugees with open arms. I would ask you for help in putting pressure on Powys Council and our MP Glyn Davies to put more pressure on the government to take more refugees rather than the paltry 20,000 over five years.
Other countries are taking much higher numbers: of the four million people who have fled the country, the UK has taken only around 2,000, while 18,000 have been taken in by Germany in one weekend.
We are failing people, families and children and we need to show compassion and give hope to people who have lost their home through no fault of their own. There is a petition on 38 Degrees to take people in Powys: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/refugees-welcome-in-powys
Maggie Fitzpatrick-Reeves, Llanidloes
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