The first Syrian refugee family to move to Kingston as part of a Government resettlement programme has spoken of the “perilous” journey to the UK, as the borough welcomes more escapees.

The family of three, who do not wish to named, moved to Kingston in March last year having become the first Syrians to be resettled in the borough as part of the vulnerable person’s relocation scheme.

Now approaching their one year anniversary of moving, the family has for the first time spoken of their dangerous journey to the UK and what they left behind.

From October 2016: Second family of war-torn Syria's 'most vulnerable' refugees moves to Kingston

It comes as Kingston Council announced it would be welcoming its third family, bringing the number of refugees resettled in the borough under the Home Office-funded scheme to 10.

A family member, originally from central Syrian city Hama, said: “Life in Syria was full with fear during the war, unsafe, hard to receive the basic needs, prices have been soaring, especially the food, due to the siege put in place by the regime.

“Being hungry the whole day was a normal occurrence. The regime was trying every way possible to kill and starve the people of Hama.

“I have relatives who survived on a diet of eating salt and others in our area survived by eating grass.

“I was very saddened by the fact that we as civilians are not politically affiliated but were being killed mercilessly.”

Surrey Comet:

Kingston Council was one of the first to sign up the resettlement programme

The family decided to make the “perilous” journey after they discovered their mother shot dead in the street, and themselves came close to death while fleeing.

They still harbour dreams of returning to Syria when the civil war comes to an end, having taken only pictures of their relatives to the UK.

The family member added: “At the time, I lost my mum. She was on the way to her job when we found her shot with nine bullets.

“It was a very sad moment for me and the family and it dawned on us that our area was very unsafe and you are likely to die at any moment.

“As a university student, I lost my dream.”

From May 2016: Just one home in Kingston offered to Syria's "most vulnerable" refugees

The escapees were followed by a second Syrian refugee family in October last year, with a third family welcomed this year.

Kingston Council, one of the first to sign up to the resettlement scheme, hopes to house 50 of the “most vulnerable” refugees through the programme.

Kingston Council leader Kevin Davis said: “I’m hugely proud of Kingston’s response. We have resettled three Syrian refugee families to date - this wouldn’t have been possible without the help of residents.

“We are specifically appealing to private landlords to help us with this scheme. If you, or someone you know, has a property in Kingston that they think fits the bill, get in touch.”

In September 2015, Prime Minister David Cameron said the UK would “live up to its moral responsibility” and rehome 20,000 refugees over five years after the body of three-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach.

But his successor Theresa May came under criticism last week for The UK government for ending the so-called "Dubs amendment" scheme after taking in 350 children.

It was originally suggested the scheme could help resettle as many as 3,000 displaced child refugees.

If you have a property to rent call 020 8547 5491 or email privatesectorschemes@kingston.gov.uk.

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