Vigil planned as Sunderland shows solidarity with families fleeing Syrian city of Aleppo

Syrians evacuated from the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo during the ceasefire arrive at a refugee camp in Rashidin, near Idlib, Syria.

Campaigners are preparing to show their support for the families being evacuated from the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.

A silent vigil will be held tomorrow night on Bishopwearmouth Gren, between Sunderland Minister and The Bridges car park, as people show their solidarity with those fleeing the conflict.

It will be held at the same time as another gathering in London’s Trafalgar Square to show support for its effort.

Sarah Gamblin, who is leading the vigil.

More than 4,500 civilians have left rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo so far.

The initial plan to evacuate the last rebel-held areas in the city collapsed on Friday, leaving civilians stranded at points along the route out without access to food or shelter.

The event is being organised by Sarah Gamblin, from Barnes, who has previously gathered donations from the community to send to those in need in the country.

The 37-year-old, who runs the Solidarity to Syria from Sunderland Facebook page, said: “A friend of mine, who I met at a rally, is organising the event down in Trafalgar Square and I can’t be there in person, so I thought about holding our own.

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, smoke rises in green government buses, in Idlib province, Syria.

“We can see there’s a lot going on and I don’t think there’s much we can do about it, but we just want to show that we care and to also show solidarity with what’s being held in London.

“I hope people come along.

“We want to show that we stand together and show that it’s from the heart.”

The event will run from 7pm until around 8pm, with Syrian revolutionary music to be played as people take time out to show their support.

The vigil, as previously stated, is not being held on the former Crowtree Leisure Centre site.