Refugee countries fact sheets
Herefordshire has a long history of welcoming refugees from many different countries, you can find out more about the culture, social customs, cuisine and social customs from our most recent refugees who have been supported by government resettlement schemes, to give you more of an understanding of their situations and how you can help them feel welcome too:
Afghanistan
UK's Afghan Resettlement Programme
In response to the events of August 2021, the UK launched Operation PITTING, successfully evacuating 15,000 Afghan nationals. Since then, the UK Government has collaborated with local authorities to support more Afghan arrivals, focussing on those who are vulnerable and at risk following the regime change due to the support they provided to the British Army.
As of 31 March 2025, a total of 37,200 Afghans have been relocated to the UK. Of these, 12,942 individuals have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain, and 27,787 have moved into settled accommodation, marking a transition out of temporary hotel housing.
Afghan resettlement in Herefordshire
Herefordshire Council and its partners are currently supporting 158 Afghan individuals. This support is key to successful resettlement, helping them secure permanent housing, access NHS services, enrol their children in local schools, find employment opportunities, and integrate into the community.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the warm and heartfelt welcome we received from Herefordshire Council. Their kindness and respectful treatment towards us have been genuinely admirable. On behalf of my family, I consider the council's support and approach not only commendable but deeply appreciated.
Once again, I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone at Herefordshire Council for all their efforts and dedication.
With respect,
Abdullah Sherzai"
Other facts about Afghanistan
Afghanistan boasts a rich cultural tapestry shaped by its diverse ethnic groups, Islamic heritage, and centuries of tradition.
Religion
Islam is central to Afghan life, with approximately 99% of the population adhering to the faith - about 85% Sunni and 15% Shia. Religious practices influence daily routines (such as praying five times a day), social norms, and national holidays. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, breaking their fast with communal meals known as iftar. Friday is the Islamic holy day, leading to closures of many businesses and government offices.
Cuisine
Afghan cuisine reflects its agrarian lifestyle and cultural diversity. Staple foods include rice, wheat, maize, and barley. One notable dish is Kabuli Palaw: the national dish, consisting of steamed rice mixed with raisins, carrots, and lamb.
Meals are often communal, eaten on a dastarkhan (cloth spread on the floor), using naan bread to scoop food. Tea, especially green or black, is a staple beverage, symbolising hospitality.
Traditions and celebrations
Hospitality is paramount in Afghanistan; guests are treated with utmost respect and offered the best food available.
Some important celebrations include Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox, featuring special dishes like sabzi chalaw (spinach and rice) and sweets like kulcha-e Nowruzī. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are Islamic festivals marked by communal prayers, feasting, and charity.
Social customs
Afghan society places great emphasis on family and community. Extended families often live together, with elders holding significant authority. Traditional roles are prevalent, with women primarily managing household duties, though this varies across regions and is evolving. Traditional attire includes the shalwar kameez for both men and women, often accompanied by headscarves or turbans, reflecting modesty and cultural identity.
Ukraine
UK's Ukrainian Resettlement Programme
The UK launched different schemes to support those Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members who wish to either come to or remain in the UK. While the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Extension Scheme are now closed, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, followed by the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme remain open. Currently, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme grants 18 months of stay in the UK, however, eligible Ukrainian nationals may apply for a further 18 months' permission once the Homes for Ukraine visa expires, through the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme.
Ukraine resettlement in Herefordshire
Herefordshire Council and its partners are currently supporting 613 Ukrainian individuals. This support is key to successful resettlement, helping them secure permanent housing, access NHS services, enrol their children in local schools, find employment opportunities, and integrate into the community.
"My family and I came to the UK almost three years ago, fleeing from the terrible war in Ukraine. We left everything and went into the unknown, worried and not imagining what was waiting for us ahead. However, from the first days after arriving in the UK, we received support, help and care from our sponsor, from many caring people and from Herefordshire Council. Thanks to this support, we were able to settle down and start a new life in the UK. Now, I am finishing college in Hereford, my mother and my partner have good jobs, my granny is with us, and we are happy that in this difficult time for us, our family is in peace and safety.
We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to everyone: to the UK government for the Homes for Ukraine scheme, to local people who opened the doors of their homes for Ukrainians who found themselves in difficult life circumstances, to Herefordshire Council, which has been supporting us at every step for three years now. Your help and support are invaluable and so necessary for us. It is impossible to express our gratitude in words. Thank you all very much!
Kate."
Other facts about Ukraine
Although Ukraine has often struggled to maintain its independence, it has successfully retained and protected its cultural legacy.
Religion
Christianity is the predominant religion in Ukraine, with approximately 85% of the population identifying as Christian. This includes various denominations, with Catholicism accounting for 9%, Protestantism for 2%, and other religions making up the remainder.
Cuisine
Ukraine's national dish is red borscht, a vibrant beet-based soup with countless regional variations. Alongside borscht, two other beloved staples are varenyky (boiled dumplings like pierogi) and holubtsi (cabbage rolls filled with rice and meat). These dishes are widely enjoyed in homes and traditional Ukrainian restaurants, reflecting the deep cultural and culinary ties shared across Eastern Europe.
Traditions and celebrations
Important celebrations in Ukraine include Easter, which falls on different dates each year based on the Julian calendar and the timing of the spring equinox. Christmas is widely celebrated as well, with Ukrainians observing it either on 25 December (according to the Gregorian calendar) or the 7 January (according to the Julian calendar), depending on religious tradition. A key custom during Christmas is the singing of carols (known as koliadky) that honour the birth of Christ. The New Year is also celebrated twice by some Ukrainians, on 1 January and again on 13 January, the latter being the "Old New Year" based on the Julian calendar.
Social customs
Both material and spiritual values play a significant role in the lives of Ukrainian nationals. Strong family ties, religious beliefs, and a deep respect for tradition are key elements of Ukrainian identity. Folk music and traditional embroidery are also integral parts of Ukrainian culture, reflecting its rich heritage and national pride.
Hong Kong
UK's Hong Kong Resettlement Programme
The UK launched the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) Scheme on 31 January 2021, allowing eligible Hong Kong nationals to live, work, and study in the UK, as well as access education. This was in response to the Chinese government imposing a stringent national security law in 2020.
The scheme allows holders of British National (Overseas), or BNO, passports, which were issued to Hong Kong residents before 1997 - when Hong Kong was handed back to China - to apply for a special type of visa that puts them on a fast track to settlement and citizenship in the UK. The scheme also extends to immediate family members, including spouses or partners, children under 18, dependent adult children born after 1997, and, in some cases, other dependent relatives.
BN(O) visa holders can remain in the UK for up to 5 years. After this period, they may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and, following one year of ILR, they can apply for British citizenship.
BN(O) resettlement in Herefordshire
Since this scheme provides BN(O) holders with more autonomy compared to other resettlement programmes, councils are not required to offer extensive support. However, we know that at least 10 Hong Kong nationals live in the county and actively participate in English classes and local events.
Other facts about Hong Kong
Hong Kong's culture is a unique blend of traditional Chinese heritage and modern Western influences, shaped by its history as a British colony and its position as a global city.
Religion
Hong Kong is home to a diverse range of religious groups, including Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and several smaller faiths. Buddhism is followed by around 1 million people and is marked by numerous historic temples. Taoism has over 1 million followers and is practiced in more than 300 temples across the city. Christianity, with approximately 1.4 million adherents, is mainly represented by Protestants and Catholics.
Cuisine
Hong Kong's culinary heritage is a powerful opening into its complex history, shaped by colonialism, migration, and modernization. Nowadays, Hong Kong dining culture preserve the country's past more vividly than architecture or museums.
Pre-colonial Hong Kong was a fishing hub, with dried seafood serving as a key export and essential food source. In the 1950s, Cha chaan teng cafes emerged, blending British and Chinese influences in fast, affordable meals like milk tea, French toast, and pork chop buns, reflecting post-war industrial life. In mid-20th century, Soy Sauce Western cuisine arose, with Hong Kongers adapting Western dishes to Cantonese tastes.
Cantonese food is the predominant cuisine in Hong Kong, and includes dishes like Shaomai, Lo Mai Gai, Crispy Fried Chicken and Spring Rolls.
Traditions and celebrations
Hong Kong's cultural heritage blends traditional Chinese customs with Western, particularly British, influences. Important celebrations include the Lunar New Year, observed in January or February based on the lunar calendar, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, held in September or October, during which people eat mooncakes, light lanterns, and enjoy moon gazing. The Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated in May or June, features dragon boat races and the enjoyment of sticky rice dumplings called zongzi. In addition to traditional Chinese festivals, Hongkongers also enthusiastically celebrate Western holidays such as Christmas and New Year.
Social customs
In Hong Kong, traditional Confucian values like family solidarity, courtesy, and 'saving face' remain deeply influential. The city's mainstream culture is largely shaped by Cantonese heritage from the neighbouring Guangdong province, which differs notably from other Han Chinese cultural traditions.
Syria
UK's Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS)
The Syrian VPRS was launched in January 2014 to resettle the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, working with UNHCR to identify those in urgent need such as survivors of torture, those needing medical care, and at-risk women and children. Initially designed to help a few hundred, the scheme was expanded in September 2015 to resettle 20,000 people by 2020, including non-Syrians affected by the conflict. The scheme closed to new arrivals on 25 February 2021.
Syrian resettlement in Herefordshire
We have welcomed 95 Syrian individuals to Herefordshire since 2016, supporting them in settling into the county and accessing the specialist services they need.
Other facts about Syria
Syria is a culturally rich and historically significant country in the Middle East, however since 2011, it has faced a devastating civil war that caused massive humanitarian crises and displacement. Despite ongoing challenges, its people maintain strong community ties and cultural resilience.
Religion
The majority of Syrians are Muslims, with Sunnis - mainly Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, and Circassians - forming the largest group, followed by Alawites, other Shia sects (notably Isma'ilis and Twelvers), the Druze and Christians.
Cuisine
Syrian cuisine features ingredients like aubergine, courgette, garlic, lamb, sesame seeds, rice, chickpeas, lentils, vine leaves, and olive oil, often flavoured with mint, lemon, and spices. Mezze -an assortment of appetizers served with Arabic bread - precedes the main course, followed by coffee and sweets or fruit. Many traditional recipes date back to the 13th century. Popular dishes include Falafel, Fasolia bizzeit and Makdous.
Traditions and celebrations
Syrian Muslims observe major religious holidays such as Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha, while Syrian Christians freely celebrate traditional Christian holidays, including Christmas and Easter.
Social customs
Family is central to Syrian social life, with frequent visits and shared meals common among relatives. While arranged marriages are less common today, parental approval remains influential, and marriages typically occur within one's religion. Syria's cultural diversity is reflected in its clothing: some women wear modern European styles, others veil completely; older men may wear traditional dress, while younger generations often prefer Western fashion.