OMAGH AID FOR REFUGEES
Omagh aid for refugees
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Council initiative could accommodate displaced families in Omagh
THE MOVE by Omagh District Council this week to offer shelter to the Kosovo refugees, is an innovative and generous step which has been lauded by the international community.
The decision to invite twenty displaced families fleeing the Serb massacres, to come and live here and be cared for by this community, is according to a Council chief, 'a small way of paying back all the kindness showered upon Omagh and its people since the August bomb'.
Perturbed about the ongoing slaughter of the Kosovo's, the local authority called an emergency meeting on Easter Monday, after which it announced its plans for providing shelter.
Councillors agreed to bring some twenty families to Omagh, providing accommodation and, giving them shelter and care.
The initiative was sparked by Cllr Pat McDonnell, who, having watched the refugees being forced out of Kosovo was, indignant that such a thing could happen in this day and age.
Said Cllr McDonnell "I decided that it was better to light one candle than to curse the dark."
He therefore called the emergency meeting and got the preliminary support of fellow Councillors for the project.
Cllr McDonnell continued "The people of Omagh have learned so much about suffering in the last year, and so they would have a special sensitivity to the plight of the Albanian people of Kosovo. Omagh, in some way, could give a little back for all the kindness and sympathy that we have received since August 15th."
It is believed that eight cottages owned by the Council at the Ulster History Park could be pressed into action. The cottages, which are normally let out to tourists; will be made available to families fleeing Serb forces in Kosovo, until the crisis passes.
Other possible sites include the Omagh General Hospital building, and chalets at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital.
Following publicity surrounding the proposal, dozens of private individuals have come forward to offer their homes to the displaced peoples, also a number of businesses in Omagh have offered to put some of their resources at the disposal of any initiative to help the Kosovo people. Said Cllr McDonnell "We have a solemn duty to restore dignity to these people. We must not forget the terrible affront to human dignity which has been the Kosovo experience any remedial are in must clearly recognise the need to allow the afflicted to regain confidence in themselves as valued and unique human beings. This would involve, amongst other things, protection of the concept of 'home' so vital to every family.
"If this project is realised we must strenuously avoid, as far as possible, the soul destroying concept of containing fellow human beings in a compound."
An emergency motion was put before the Council's monthly meeting last night. Local agencies such as the Western Education and Library Board, NIHE, and the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, have all indicated support for the initiative. The next stage will be contact with the Northern Ireland Office to make known the offer of practical support.
Chairman of the Council, Sean Clarke described the initiative as "A good humanitarian idea, nobody could remain unaffected by what is happening in Kosovo" though he acknowledged that there was a lot of detail to be worked out. The Chairman confirmed that in the coming days there would by a concerted effort draw the various agencies together.
Councillor Paddy McGowan, welcoming the idea acknowledged that, the British government had a very major say in what may happen. "If it does happen and the Council can bring refugees to Omagh, we would be doing it in conjunction with the other big agencies, the Council would only be spearheading it."
Cllr McGowan suggested that the twenty families, which the Council believed it is possible for Omagh to accommodate, could mean as many as one hundred people requiring refuge."If the people from other parts of the world and other parts of the country are doing this, then why not us? It is not so many months ago that the world's attention was focused on Omagh and since people in all parts of the world were showing our people kindness."
Nevertheless, Cllr McGowan acknowledged that there could be many problems associated with such a plan; "We are ignorant of the many
problems that an operation like this could involve, and though we would welcome the refugees we must be cautious in the approach we take."
DUP Councillor, Oliver Gibson, expressed reservations about the mercy mission. In a statement issued yesterday he said; "The well meaning but ill-advised clamour by Cllr Pat McDonnell to rehabilitate 20 families in Omagh from Kosovo makes an assumption that they wish to come here and not return home. I know Omagh will respond with great kindness and generosity, but the deliberate exiling of families already exiled and traumatised, may be much more than these people need or demand.
Speaking after the Easter Tuesday meeting, the Chief Executive of the Council, John McKinney said that it was a positive and humanitarian gesture considering the world-wide response that Omagh received in the aftermath of the of the August 15th atrocity.
"Everyone was in favour of it, and felt it was a very positive thing to do, particularly after everything that happened to Omagh" said Mr McKinney.
He added; "Obviously we can't do it on our own, but we are prepared to co-ordinate it locally."
President of the local St.Vincent de Paul conference, Ben Quinn, also praised the concept and said he believed the local organisation, along with other voluntary organisations, would do what it could to help. He said that the ideal situation would be to have the refugees as close to their homes as possible, however, he recognised that this was not feasible.
Mr Quinn said he believed that a number of other voluntary organisations would also get involved to do what is necessary.
BY: ADRIAN MULLAN
Council initiative could accommodate displaced families in Omagh
THE MOVE by Omagh District Council this week to offer shelter to the Kosovo refugees, is an innovative and generous step which has been lauded by the international community.
The decision to invite twenty displaced families fleeing the Serb massacres, to come and live here and be cared for by this community, is according to a Council chief, 'a small way of paying back all the kindness showered upon Omagh and its people since the August bomb'.
Perturbed about the ongoing slaughter of the Kosovo's, the local authority called an emergency meeting on Easter Monday, after which it announced its plans for providing shelter.
Councillors agreed to bring some twenty families to Omagh, providing accommodation and, giving them shelter and care.
The initiative was sparked by Cllr Pat McDonnell, who, having watched the refugees being forced out of Kosovo was, indignant that such a thing could happen in this day and age.
Said Cllr McDonnell "I decided that it was better to light one candle than to curse the dark."
He therefore called the emergency meeting and got the preliminary support of fellow Councillors for the project.
Cllr McDonnell continued "The people of Omagh have learned so much about suffering in the last year, and so they would have a special sensitivity to the plight of the Albanian people of Kosovo. Omagh, in some way, could give a little back for all the kindness and sympathy that we have received since August 15th."
It is believed that eight cottages owned by the Council at the Ulster History Park could be pressed into action. The cottages, which are normally let out to tourists; will be made available to families fleeing Serb forces in Kosovo, until the crisis passes.
Other possible sites include the Omagh General Hospital building, and chalets at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital.
Following publicity surrounding the proposal, dozens of private individuals have come forward to offer their homes to the displaced peoples, also a number of businesses in Omagh have offered to put some of their resources at the disposal of any initiative to help the Kosovo people. Said Cllr McDonnell "We have a solemn duty to restore dignity to these people. We must not forget the terrible affront to human dignity which has been the Kosovo experience any remedial are in must clearly recognise the need to allow the afflicted to regain confidence in themselves as valued and unique human beings. This would involve, amongst other things, protection of the concept of 'home' so vital to every family.
"If this project is realised we must strenuously avoid, as far as possible, the soul destroying concept of containing fellow human beings in a compound."
An emergency motion was put before the Council's monthly meeting last night. Local agencies such as the Western Education and Library Board, NIHE, and the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, have all indicated support for the initiative. The next stage will be contact with the Northern Ireland Office to make known the offer of practical support.
Chairman of the Council, Sean Clarke described the initiative as "A good humanitarian idea, nobody could remain unaffected by what is happening in Kosovo" though he acknowledged that there was a lot of detail to be worked out. The Chairman confirmed that in the coming days there would by a concerted effort draw the various agencies together.
Councillor Paddy McGowan, welcoming the idea acknowledged that, the British government had a very major say in what may happen. "If it does happen and the Council can bring refugees to Omagh, we would be doing it in conjunction with the other big agencies, the Council would only be spearheading it."
Cllr McGowan suggested that the twenty families, which the Council believed it is possible for Omagh to accommodate, could mean as many as one hundred people requiring refuge."If the people from other parts of the world and other parts of the country are doing this, then why not us? It is not so many months ago that the world's attention was focused on Omagh and since people in all parts of the world were showing our people kindness."
Nevertheless, Cllr McGowan acknowledged that there could be many problems associated with such a plan; "We are ignorant of the many
problems that an operation like this could involve, and though we would welcome the refugees we must be cautious in the approach we take."
DUP Councillor, Oliver Gibson, expressed reservations about the mercy mission. In a statement issued yesterday he said; "The well meaning but ill-advised clamour by Cllr Pat McDonnell to rehabilitate 20 families in Omagh from Kosovo makes an assumption that they wish to come here and not return home. I know Omagh will respond with great kindness and generosity, but the deliberate exiling of families already exiled and traumatised, may be much more than these people need or demand.
Speaking after the Easter Tuesday meeting, the Chief Executive of the Council, John McKinney said that it was a positive and humanitarian gesture considering the world-wide response that Omagh received in the aftermath of the of the August 15th atrocity.
"Everyone was in favour of it, and felt it was a very positive thing to do, particularly after everything that happened to Omagh" said Mr McKinney.
He added; "Obviously we can't do it on our own, but we are prepared to co-ordinate it locally."
President of the local St.Vincent de Paul conference, Ben Quinn, also praised the concept and said he believed the local organisation, along with other voluntary organisations, would do what it could to help. He said that the ideal situation would be to have the refugees as close to their homes as possible, however, he recognised that this was not feasible.
Mr Quinn said he believed that a number of other voluntary organisations would also get involved to do what is necessary.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1245
Published Date: 08-Apr-99
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