Omagh refugee group makes appeal to First Minister

A TYRONE community worker has urged the restored Executive to ensure that newcomers and refugees are not forgotten, at an event this week in Omagh.

Mary Lafferty is the project manager with ERANO (Empowering Refugees and Newcomers Organisation), a community support group set up to advocate, support, facilitate and promote the integration of refugees. She was speaking at an event to promote community support and integration at Omagh’s Community House on Valentine’s Day.

The event was attended by members of the emergency services along with council workers and politicians who were all allowed to hear from members of the newcomer and refugee community who have settled in the Omagh area.

Mary told the Tyrone Herald, “I want to ensure that the message is clear and that the new Executive is there to represent everyone. There is a lot of talk from the new First Minister about being a representative for all but she has only mentioned the orange and green element of our society.

“Northern Ireland’s demographics are continuing to change and the future of this place is upon us. We must ensure that our newcomers and refugees are made to feel welcome and that what they bring to our society is acknowledged and promoted. Recently, there have been a lot of negative stories regarding refugees and immigrants in the media and this is not the case I see every day working with people. The vast majority of new countries to Ireland are making our society a better place to live in.”

Also attending the event on behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council was Sinn Féin councillor Stephen McCann who said that he would like to commend the work of ERANO.

He said, “As a committee chair I am delighted to represent Fermanagh and Omagh District Council at this event. Today is an opportunity for everyone to come together and extend the hand of friendship to refugees, asylum seekers and new communities in the area.“Erano is a key part of the support network in our district and I would like to commend the work Mary and her team do make newcomers feel welcome.”