Refugees Welcome Here!

Syrian refugees’ arrival in Edinburgh

Readers may well be aware that a charter plane carrying Syrian refugees has arrived at Glasgow airport today (Tuesday 17 November).

This update was sent out earlier today to advise residents on Edinburgh Council’s current position and update them with what is being shared with the media etc.

I thought it might be of wider interest ...

Background

Edinburgh:

• has agreed to welcome around 100 Syrian refugees over the next 12 months
• is expecting around half to arrive before Christmas - with a further 50 to follow over the course of New Year. They will start arriving in the next few days
• has been involved with the UK Government’s Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme since May. The scheme allows us to welcome a number of families from Syria, all of whom will have been identified as being in particular need by the United Nations
• is keen to provide support and assistance to those in need. The scheme prioritises help for survivors of torture and violence, women and children at risk, and those in need of medical care.

Arrangements in place

We are expecting the first refugees to arrive this week and next. This will be around half of the total the Council committed to for this year.

The Council will be using its Private Sector Leasing scheme - coordinated by Link Housing - to accommodate refugees.

Appropriate school and GP placements have been identified for the families arriving.

All costs of participating in the scheme will be met but he Home Office for the first year.

Official statement released to interested media

Council Leader Andrew Burns said: “City of Edinburgh Council has agreed to take 100 refugees in the coming year.  This week we will start welcoming around half that number to the capital in the run up to Christmas and look forward to welcoming the remainder during the course of next year. 

“Naturally, as a city, we’re keen to provide support and assistance to those in need of our help.  The people coming to Edinburgh have been on a long and difficult journey.  Working with our partners in health, police and in the third sector we look forward to helping them settle in Edinburgh.

“Our city has long been a multi-cultural capital and we will continue to welcome people from all over the world to live, work and raise families here.

“There has been a huge response from local communities and members of the public wanting to offer help which is very heart-warming but we need to ensure we can channel this support to make the best use of it.

“I have every confidence that the people of Edinburgh will continue to show their support for the families as they adapt into their new lives in the capital.”

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