Syria asks Alderney to take in refugees

ALDERNEY has been urged to accept refugees from Syria.

All of the island's States members have received an email from a Syrian living in England pledging that a dozen families from his homeland could come to help make the island vibrant.

Alderney's population has fallen by a fifth over the last decade with young people in particular leaving in numbers.

Anas Al-korj, an engineer living in Southampton, sent the emails after hearing the phone-in where Guernsey's Deputy Chris Green and Alderney States member Louis Jean were guests. The conversation turned to the possibility of Guernsey and Alderney helping to house refugees.

Mr Jean said that because of Alderney's small size the island would not be able to make a great deal of difference to the situation, and he would have to talk to other local politicians about it and seek advice at Bailiwick level before giving support to the idea.

Mr Al-Korj wrote to States members imploring them to set an example to the rest of the world by welcoming up to 12 families from the poverty-stricken and heavily shelled city of Aleppo.