Syrians Settling In During Trying Time

By Ricardo Veneza

Published: December 29, 2016 at 11:57 AM

Syrians leave a rebel-held area of Aleppo towards the government-held side on December 13, 2016 during an operation by Syrian government forces to retake the embattled city.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm over reports of atrocities against civilians Monday, as the battle for Aleppo entered its final phase with Syrian government forces on the verge of retaking rebel-held areas of the city.

/ AFP / KARAM AL-MASRI (Photo credit should read KARAM AL-MASRI/AFP/Getty Images) — Syrians leave a rebel-held area of Aleppo towards the government-held side on December 13, 2016 during an operation by Syrian government forces to retake the embattled city. UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm over reports of atrocities against civilians Monday, as the battle for Aleppo entered its final phase with Syrian government forces on the verge of retaking rebel-held areas of the city. / AFP / KARAM AL-MASRI (Photo credit should read KARAM AL-MASRI/AFP/Getty Images)KARAM AL-MASRI/AFP/Getty Images

Local support groups are working to help them connect

Syrian refugees resettled in Windsor-Essex are making the best of the holiday season.

That's according to Marcela Diaz with the Multicultural Council of Windsor-Essex.

Diaz told AM800's 'The Afternoon News' that local support groups are helping refugees connect during what can be a trying time.

"The majority of them, or all of them, left family behind," says Diaz. "They're yearning to be with their family. For them, the New Year celebration is also an important celebration so that is also a painful moment for them."

Celebrations were held last week by the Multicultural Council with roughly 100 people attending.

"We had a Santa and we had some other holiday music and they were really delighted to be participating in such an event," says Diaz. "We had the toys from Sparky's Toy Drive, so thank you so much to the community for all of the donations."

Roughly 1,000 Syrian refugees have settled in Windsor-Essex since November 2015.