A total of five families are to be resettled in Enniskillen as part of the part of the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme (VPRS). 

It’s the first time anyone from the scheme, which is aimed at helping families who have been affected by the brutal war in Syria, have been relocated to Fermanagh. 

A spokesman for the Department of Communities said the department worked with local councils to resettle each group of Syrian refugees that arrived in the North, and the availability of appropriate housing determined where they would be located. 

“The Department can confirm that five refugee families from Group 17 will be the first to be resettled in Enniskillen,” they said. 

“All families receive support from a consortium of community and voluntary groups in partnership with statutory organisations. 

“The Vulnerable Syrian Refugee Consortium has been appointed by the Department to help support the direct delivery of services to the refugees and support them in their resettlement and integration.” 

They added the Consortium had been working closely with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, who they said were “keen to play their part in ensuring the families feel welcomed and supported.” This included delivering training on refugee awareness and Arabic culture. 

A total of 19 families, 85 people, are part of Group 17, which arrived in the North on October 18th.  

The rest of the group will be resettled in other areas of the North. 

The Department said there had been overwhelming support for the families in the communities where they had been resettled, with locals wanting to help. 

They said, however, while the good will was greatly appreciated, anyone wanting to help is asked to contact the Consortium on 90325835 or email bquail@brysongroup.org. 

Like those who came before them, the families who arrived in the North on October 18 would have flown here by charter flight from a neighbouring country to Syria, such as Jordan, Egypt or Turkey, having had to leave their lives behind them at home. 

After they arrived in the North the families are taken to a welcome centre for a short time, then moved to temporary accommodation, before being moved to their new towns.

No date has been given for when the families will arrive in Enniskillen for their privacy, which the public are asked to respect.