Refugee transfer described as ‘cruel and inhumane’

Plans to relocate 79 Ukrainian refugees who have become part of the Kells community to other centres around the county have been described as “cruel and inhumane”.

Outraged local residents, who have welcomed and supported the refugees, are planning to protest against the move on Thursday evening at 7.30pm at the Kells Civic Offices.

Residents of the Kells Reception Centre on the Kells Navan road were informed this week that they will be relocated to Garlow Cross or Donore in early December, causing huge stress to the families involved.

“This is just inhumane. These families have children in playschools, primary school and secondary schools. They have become part of the community and now they are talking about moving them to Garlow Cross, miles away from all amenities and from their schools,” said Brian Curran who has been involved in providing supports to the refugees since they arrived.

“It is ridiculous, so much time and resources have gone into helping them settle in Kells. The schools have been fantastic, the Family Resource Centre, the library, the local community and businesses have been great and the refugees have settled well, some have found jobs, they volunteers in local organisations and have become part of the community of Kells.

“The people of Kells have embraced them and want this horrifying decision reversed.

“These families have been through enough they have to contend with getting bad news from home on a regular basis. At least they feel safe and settled in Kells. It is cruel to move them now.”

Mr Curran said no information has been given about the what will now happen to the building. There are 123 people there at the moment and 79 were told they are being moved. That is all anyone was told," he said.

Svitlana Rybak, a Ukrainian volunteer at the Kells Family Resource Centre, said the decision has devastated the families involved.

“The community of Kells was welcoming and they feel safe here, they have settled, their children are at school here. They have made friends, take part in various events in the town. There is a group that meets in the library and they make blankets and other aid to send to Ukraine.

“They love it here, they are heartbroken. It is very hard for them because they have lost family members at home and there is the constant bombings of their homeland, but they at least felt safe and secure here - they are now frightened of what this move will mean.”

Deputy Darren O'Rourke said that to move the 79 Ukrainian refugees to centres elsewhere in county would be disruptive and cruel and should be reversed.

“They received notice that the centre is to close on Monday 2nd December and that they would be moved to three reception centres in Donore and Garlow Cross.

“This is something we've seen elsewhere in the county. It is a very disruptive policy. It is cruel to lift people from the community that has hosted them so well and that they have contributed to since their arrival. I have written to the Department of Integration to express my frustration with this policy and to call for this decision in Kells to be reversed. I have also asked the Department if they have assessed the impact of this policy.

“I have been contacted by a number of local community leaders in recent days who share my frustration. They have organised a solidarity demonstration for 7.30pm at the Kells Council Office on Thursday 21st November. All are welcome to attend.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said they cannot discuss individual contracts and said this contract termination was beyond the Department’s control.

“Every effort is being made to keep those who have fled the war in Ukraine, as local as possible. However, given the number of moves that are taking place, this is not always possible.

“People affected who wish to stay in the area are welcome to make their own arrangements, including through pledged accommodation. Due to the scale involved, the only factors that can be considered when allocating follow-on accommodation are HSE assessed medical needs.

“The Department appreciates that this is not easy for people and that moving location can be very disruptive, but at all times the Department was clear that State-funded accommodation is temporary and subject to change.”