Close to 130 displaced individuals from across the world are set to find sanctuary in Wagga this year.
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While this number is subject to change, the majority of new arrivals will be Yazidis, according to the Red Cross.
In August 2014, Islamic State (IS) fighters attacked Sinjar in northwestern Iraq, killing thousands of men and kidnapping thousands of women from the little-known religious group.
A fraction of the 400,000 Yazidis, driven from their homes due to the violence and terrorism of ISIS, have found sanctuary across the Riverina.
Wagga’s Multicultural Council manager Belinda Crane last year said IS militants had a “convert or be killed” philosophy, but for the Yazidis it was simply “be killed”.
The arrival of Wagga’s newest men, women and children comes two years after 18 Yazidi families made a home in the Riverina, following a harrowing journey across borders to find safety.
They were welcomed as part of Australia’s humanitarian intake from the Syrian conflict and many more have been welcomed since.
Their settlement will now be coordinated by the Red Cross, after the Wagga charity took responsibility for the nationally acclaimed Riverina Humanitarian Program last year.
It follows more than a decade of Saint Vincent de Paul and Wagga’s Multicultural Council coordination, with more than 300 volunteers backed by six case workers.
Red Cross greater western regional manager John Pocius said the program was going well, with 35 individuals having been settled since last December.
It comes despite reports the program was operating with significantly less staff – 10 volunteers and one case worker – but Mr Pocius said it was working off a needs basis.
“Do we need 300 volunteers? No we don’t,” Mr Pocius said. “Our key interest at the moment, has been in ensuring we are set up and meeting and greeting families as they come in.”
He said the expected settlement numbers were subject to change, but they were no different to that of previous years and as numbers increased, so too would staffing and volunteer numbers.
“We would love more volunteers to come on board,” Mr Pocius said.