Syrian refugee families bound for Winnipeg face new threats

Syrian families headed toWinnipeg face new threats from the Syrian army, and more money may be needed to keep them safe, their sponsorship group says.

• South Osborne concert raises money to help bring Syrian families to Winnipeg

TheSouthOsborne SyrianRefugee Initiativeis sponsoring three Syrian families. One of the families is in Turkey, but the other two arein Lebanon, where male family memberswere targeted for possible forced return to Syria to be conscripted into the Syrian army, the sponsorship group said.

"We needed to move them farther away from where they were temporarily," said South OsborneSyrian Refugee InitiativespokespersonMatthew Lawrence. "Some of the men or older teenaged boys were being pulled back into the conflict."

A fundraising social on Friday will now raise money that could be used to keep the families safe rather than for resettlement costs in Winnipeg, Lawrence said.

Emergency fund needed

An additional $6,000 was raised to cover thenew costs associated with transporting the families to a safer location, Lawrence said, but more may be needed. The group'sGoFundMe campaignfor the three families, which has a goal of $90,000, currently sits at $80,425, but that money is earmarked for settlement.

Organizers hopethis weekend's fundraiser will put them over $90,000and add to the emergency fund.

"The social for this Friday was supposed to be for resettlement money," said Lawrence. "Now we're being upfront, telling people it will either go to resettlement or it could be used to keep them safe in the interim housing situation."

The SOSRI's Spring Fever Dance Party takes place Friday night at the Riverview Community Centre. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.