A CAMPAIGN for more refugees to be welcomed in Denbighshire took to the streets of Ruthin last week.

As part of the annual Refugee Week, which takes place across the UK every year to bring communities and refugees together, nearly 100 people visited St Peter’s Square, Ruthin on Friday, June 22 to show their support for refugees in Denbighshire.

The awareness day, organised by Colwyn Bay Amnesty International (CBAI), was attended by members of CBAI, Christian Aid, Freedom from Forture and Share to welcome refugees in Denbighshire and encourage communities to take part in positive, practical action

Petitions were signed on the day: one for politicians in Wales to confirm their support for refugees, whose signatories included AM for North Wales Llyr Gruffydd, as well as a petition asking for the Home Secretary Sajid Javid to back the Refugee Family Reunion Bill, which would give child refugees in Britain the right to be joined by their parents.

Lynette Hughes, organiser of the Ruthin event, said: “We wanted to raise awareness of the Refugee Crisis and about refugees coming into Wales, as well as make private landlords aware of the need for housing for these refugees.”

Denbighshire is the leading county in North Wales for accepting refugees, with 14 already settled and three more due in Autumn. Denbighshire County Council has committed to resettle 25 Syrian families by 2020.

Denbighshire County Council is appealing to landlords with property available which is suitable for a family to contact the authority. The Home Office will cover the cost of furnishing their homes.

In an information sheet provided at the Ruthin event, the Denbighshire County Council described the Refugee Crisis as “the biggest humanitarian emergency of our generation” and stressed that refugees are not economic migrants but are in fear of their lives, with many having lost close relatives.