Rethink Rebuild Society was interviewed by Anadolu Turkish press on 3 February with respect to the upcoming CSO conference in London. We stressed our hope that humanitarian efforts be seen side by side with the political efforts in Geneva. Only by achieving a solution for the Syrian conflict can we begin to address the humanitarian issues that emanate from it.
The Hebden Bridge Picture House screened ‘A Syrian Love Story’ on the evening of Sunday 31st January and followed that by a fund-raising for St Augustines in Halifax, which was and is organising relief for refugees.
Together with Syrian groups across the country, we released a statement on 30 January 2016 regarding the Geneva peace talks. Offering our support for the High Negotiations Committee (main Syrian opposition bloc), we stressed that existing international agreements and resolutions must be implemented before the start of negotiations in order for them to be successful.
We issued a joint letter with Syrian organisations across the country on 29 January on the need for dignified treatment of asylum seekers refugees. This comes amidst reports that asylum seekers have been forced to wear coloured wristbands as a means of identification (in Cardiff), or that their houses were identifiable through distinctive red doors (in Middlesborough).
In an interview with BBC Radio Scotland on 29 January, we clarified that the Syrian opposition's preconditions to attending the Geneva talks are simply a request for the international community to honour decisions that it has already made and accepted.
Rethink Rebuild Society
First Floor
Discovery House
Crossley Road
Manchester
SK4 5BH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 161 222 9779
Mobile: +44 7730 194083