Humanitarian activist and spoken word artist, Assim Khan, of Darnall, is to embark on a trip to the Syrian border to deliver aid to those displaced by war. The project has taken over six months to plan and will deliver £50,000 of humanitarian aid supplies. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Aasim Khan about the mission.
One of the stand out films at this year’s Doc/Fest is the story of two gay Syrian refugees competing in a pageant for the title of Mr Gay Syria. The documentary tells a story of resistance to persecution and the life-threatening situations faced by LGBT+ Syrians. Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake was at the screening and spoke to Turkish director of the film Ayse Torpak.
Over a hundred people came out for a silent vigil outside Sheffield Town Hall, in solidarity for the fallen in Aleppo, Syria and those at risk as government forces retake rebel held areas. Many held up signs, some waved the Syrian flag, others lit candles but all had the same message. They called for an immediate ceasefire, peaceful evacuation for civilians and humanitarian aid by international organisations. Syrian activist Noor Barotchi lives in Sheffield and spoke to the crowd with updates from activists on the ground in Aleppo. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
The operation to evacuate a besieged rebel-held enclave in the Syrian city of Aleppo is now underway according to UN officials and Syria observers. The evacuation of civilians, rebels and wounded people had been due to take place on Wednesday but an earlier ceasefire deal collapsed. Government forces took nearly all remaining rebel-held parts of Aleppo this week after a four-year battle. Syrian state TV said that “4,000 rebels and their families would be evacuated from eastern districts on Thursday” but Syrian campaigners in Sheffield believe there remain serious concerns for the safety of those leaving Aleppo. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
A fused glass art installation designed by Molly Meleady-Hanley has been unveiled at a war memorial by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield. Molly, aged 13, a pupil at Mount St Mary’s College, created the artwork in memory of the pupils and school staff who fought and died in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. The striking tribute was inspired by the centenary of the battle and the forthcoming 175th anniversary of the school. The piece was unveiled in a special ceremony in front of the whole school and invited guests, including the Bishop of Hallam, Ralph Heskett, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, John Holt and the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Councillor Denise Fox. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Hundreds of people marched through Sheffield city centre today to show their support for refugees in Syria and welcome more into the city. The rally, organised by Sheffield City of Sanctuary, went from the bottom of the Moor to the Town Hall, where there were a number of speakers, including Director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti. They were aiming to send a message to Sheffield City Council and the Government that Britain should take more refugees stranded in Europe. This follows the campaigners handing in a petition to the council on Wednesday. Sheffield City Council said they will resettle one hundred and thirty refugees this year, and have offered to take ten to fifteen Syrian families as soon as possible.
Hundreds of migrants have resumed their journey through Austria to Germany after Hungary’s decision on Friday to let them through. Several trains arrived at Munich station in the early hours of Sunday morning, many migrants travelling on to other German cities for processing. Trains are taking hundreds more to Vienna from Austria’s border with Hungary. The Pope said every Catholic parish in Europe should host a migrant family. He added humanity must give help to those “fleeing death” and who are “victims of war and hunger and setting out on the path to a better life”. Well here in Sheffield today there was protest at town hall to raise awareness for the need to help, I spoke Cheryl Robertson who is a campaigner and she talked about the situation….
The government have announced Britain will allow thousands of Syrian refugees to resettle in the country.
In the biggest demonstration yet in Sheffield against Islamic State, hundreds of people gathered outside City Hall to condemn the assault on Kobani in Northern Syria. The action, organised by Kurdish community activists, called on the international community to defend communities under threat in Syria and Iraq.
Members of the Kurdish community took to the streets of Sheffield to condemn the assault by Islamic State forces on the City of Kobani in Northern Syria and to call for international action.