A community-led initiative in Warrington led by a group of volunteers took off on 22 January in the form of a pack-a-thon. After collecting clothes and other items for some time, these items were ready to be organised and packed into a container to be taken to Syria, where it would provide much-needed aid.
We met with Lucy Powell MP on 15 January in her office in Manchester city centre. This was our first formal meeting with Lucy, so there was a lot to discuss! We outlined our concerns for civilian protection and stressed that without such protection, not only will peace talks fail, but so will the fight against Daesh.
RR hosted a meeting for representatives of Syrian groups across the UK. This was a critical meeting as we discussed collective lobbying and messaging that will help us make our impact stronger on the British landscape. Participants included:
-Kurds House
-Peace and Justice for Syria
-Rethink Rebuild Society
-Syria Solidarity Movement
On 9 December RR Managing Director, Dr Haytham Alhamwi, met Andrew Mitchell MP, Co-chair of the Syria All-Party Parliamentary Group
Mr Mitchell insisted that we should focus on making the political process successful. While we agreed, we informed Mr Mitchell that our top priority as Syrians is civilian protection primarily from Assad's barrel bombs.
On the margins of Amnesty UK’s Human Rights Day event at the Speaker's House in Parliament, Dr Haytham Alhamwi, RR managing director, had quick chats with the Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. The chats focused on the importance of stopping Assad’s barrel bombs to achieve any success in the political track.
Rethink Rebuild Society
First Floor
Discovery House
Crossley Road
Manchester
SK4 5BH
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 161 222 9779
Mobile: +44 7730 194083