A SYRIAN refugee family who have been re-homed in Cardigan are urging the British Government to ‘stand with the people of Syria’.

Muhanad Alchikh, 37, his wife, and their three children spent three years in a refugee camp in Lebanon after fleeing the war in Syria which has claimed over 350,000 lives.

Speaking before the US, UK and French military action against the Assad regime, Mr Alchikh said his four sisters and three brothers living near Damascus were constantly in his thoughts.

“We wish for the British government to stand with the people of Syria,” he said.

“Stop Bashar al-Assad, stop Russia and Iran and stop the war.”

The Alchikh family came to Cardigan as part of the Home Office’s community sponsorship scheme after local group Croeso Teifi raised thousands of pounds to join.

The family’s eldest two children - Shadi, eight and Sara, seven - have been attending school since January and are learning Welsh.

Mr Alchikh has joined Maesglas FC and also carries out voluntary work in the town.

“I like Cardigan and I like the people,” he said. “We as a family are very, very happy - thank you for your help to the Croeso Teifi group and the people of Cardigan.”

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