UN praise as Scotland prepares for “fair share” of refugees
Scotland’s Minister for Europe has welcomed the huge surge of solidarity with the men, women and children caught up in the ongoing refugee crisis, as offers of support continue to pour in from across Scotland.
The country stands ready to take a share of refugees from the current crisis with the majority of Scotland’s councils, faith groups, community organisations, schools and ordinary citizens offering to help.
Following on from the first meeting of the refugee operation taskforce earlier this week and calling on the UK Government to opt in to the latest EU refugee relocation scheme, Humza Yousaf, Minister for Europe and International Development, said: "I welcome the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’s (UNHCR) warm words for Scotland’s response to the global refugee crisis.
"Scotland is a welcoming country and we stand ready to take our fair share of refugees caught up in this current crisis.
"The First Minister has made very clear that 1,000 refugees coming to Scotland should be seen as an absolute minimum and very much an initial, immediate figure – it is not a cap or a limit but a starting point for a meaningful discussion about how much we can practically contribute.
"Through the Refugee Operation Task Force, we are working with local government and a wide range of stakeholders to ensure services across Scotland are ready to welcome refugees into our communities.
"The Prime Minister’s announcement of 20,000 refugees from camps neighbouring Syria by 2020 is too little and will, tragically, in some cases be too late.
"We have repeatedly urged the UK Government to do more to urgently address this humanitarian crisis, and made clear that Scotland stands ready to accept its fair share of refugees.
"We welcome Ireland’s decision to opt into President Juncker’s expanded EU-wide relocation scheme and call on the Prime Minister to follow the Irish example and also opt in to help our neighbours and European partners cope with this humanitarian crisis.
"The UK has a moral obligation to help some of the most vulnerable people that are coming to Europe seeking protection. We cannot turn our back on innocent men, women and children."
Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR representative to the UK said: "UNHCR welcomes the important expansion of the UK’s resettlement programme for Syrian refugees announced earlier this week.
"Scotland has a long, proud and rich tradition of welcoming refugees. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, recognises the leadership of the Scottish Government in establishing a task force to look at this humanitarian crisis.
"The Scottish people have had a strong track record in welcoming refugees into a safe and caring environment. The emphasis on access to language learning, housing, employment and family reunification has played a vital role in successful integration of those who have fled conflict and persecution. Such an approach allows refugees to rebuild their lives and empowers them to make positive contributions to their new communities.
"Through the work of the newly established task force we are confident that this work will continue as Scotland asserts its readiness to take many of the vulnerable Syrian refugees - soon to be resettled to the UK - as an immediate priority."
