But in December, they received news that very close relatives were killed in intense bombing attacks in Aleppo.
Some 30 islanders volunteered to help them become familiar with the Hebridean setting.
Now, more volunteers are being sought to support re-
Comhairle leader, Angus Campbell, said: “The resettlement team is looking for volunteers who are organised and reliable, fluent English speakers, with a friendly welcoming disposition, who would ideally be available for at least two hours per week.
“They will be supported with appropriate training and guidance and reasonable out of pocket expenses will be covered.
“The team is particularly keen to hear from any Arabic speakers who may be able to donate some time.”
The families receive the same support as other homeless households in the community who require accommodation.
The Syrian refugee scheme is being funded by the UK Government Home Office.
Over the past five years, thousands of people have died in the brutal battle to control Syria's largest city.
The civil war resulted in a lack of food and medical care is sparse whilst employment, education, cultural and social experiences have been severely curtailed.
The bloody conflict in their homeland resulted in an exodus of refugees desperate to avoid violence and fleeing to seek a better life elsewhere.
The resettlement scheme was set up in response to the war in Syria and increased in scale following the UK Government’s decision to resettle 20,000 Syrians in the UK.
Local authorities throughout Scotland committed to the scheme to provide some aid in response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Syrian war.
Volunteering guidelines are available via the The Outer Hebrides Welcome Refugees webpage.
Four new Syrian refugee families to be resettled in Western Isles
4 February 2017
Four more Syrian refugee families are to be evacuated to the Western Isles.
Advance arrangements are in place for the group of adults and children to escape the conflict in Syria and resettle in Stornoway.
The new arrivals will bring the number of refugee families in Lewis to six.
Eight people made up the two interlinked families who arrived in July.
They included a pregnant woman who gave birth to a baby girl in the Stornoway hospital a few weeks later.