The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Get moving to help refugees
APerthshire aid worker is urging Scots to walk 154km – the distance people fleeing Syria must travel to reach a refugee camp in Jordan – to raise money and awareness.
Craig Cowan from Blairgowrie is an aid worker at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan for Edinburgh-based charity Mercy Corps.
The 32-year-old is now urging people across Scotland to join him in participating in a Move for Mercy Corps fundraiser.
Participants of the fundraiser will walk, run or cycle 154km (95.7 miles) over up to 30 days to help some of the 11 million Syrians forced to flee their homes. The journey represents the distance from Damascus in Syria to Jordan.
Craig drew upon experiences as an worker in his plea.
“The 154km represent a journey most of us can only imagine making to safety,” he said.
“Even in peacetime when there is a ceasefire, you still hear reports of schools and hospitals being bombed.
“People are trying to get their lives back on track and at the same time people are being killed by bombs or preventable diseases.
“It’s so traumatic for the families, for the communities, and for our staff to see this happening again.”
Craig says that despite its pre-existing financial troubles, Jordan has been “very welcoming” to refugees.
As an aid worker, his role sees him supporting people with a vast range of needs. his aid
He said: “Jordan has been very welcoming, but its economy had problems when the crisis started.
“Now they have one of the world’s biggest refugee populations.
“Opportunities are really low for refugees, so Mercy Corps does a lot of work in the camps and with those living in communities, ranging from basic needs such as making sure people have enough food to health services and shelter.
“We work with children with disabilities, making sure there are ramps into schools or modifications to the desks. We also provide mental health support to help kids deal with the trauma and stress.”
James Cleverly, UK minister for Middle East and North Africa, praised the efforts of those participating in the fundraiser.
He said: “I applaud the efforts of Craig Cowan and many other fundraisers in Scotland who will walk, run or cycle 154km to raise awareness of the brutal
repression, war and suffering the Syrian people have experienced.
“As the UK pushes for a diplomatic solution, we’ll keep delivering support to
people in Syria refugee camps.”
For more information on the fundraiser visit the Move for Mercy Corps website. and in
Aleading member of Angus Council has stepped down after claiming there is an “unhealthy culture” at the top of the authority.
Colleagues were left “saddened and downhearted” by the shock decision from Arbroath and East Lunan Independent councillor Lois Speed.
One of the highest-profile members of the ruling group, Ms Speed submitted her resignation yesterday but will continue represent her ward.
She declined to elaborate further on what ways she believed the administration operated in an “unhealthy” way. She said: “My commitment to my ward and Angus remains firm. However, it is no longer possible to work within what I perceive to be an unhealthy culture.
“I am grateful to those in the administration who have supported me. It has been rewarding to achieve positive results for the to residents of Angus. It is my intention to continue being a strong voice, representing constituents as an Independent councillor.”
Administration leader councillor David Fairweather, also an Independent, said: “I am extremely saddened and downhearted at receiving Lois’s resignation.
“Her contribution and enthusiasm for what she believes in have been exemplary. Together, we have achieved much, especially in the areas of
health for the disabled, disadvantaged and equal opportunities, which was a Lois passion.
“However, the administration goes forward as a group and the door is open for Lois at any time.”
Mr Fairweather said he didn’t know what councillor Speed was referring to when she
described an “unhealthy culture”.
He added: “As a group we have always worked well together. It’s not easy when you have Independent and coalition members in the coalition.”
When asked if next year’s local government elections could have been a factor in councillor Speed’s decision, Mr Fairweather added:
“You will have to ask Lois that one. An Independent always likes to be seen as an Independent. It’s something I don’t understand.
“If you go into local government the only way you achieve things is by being in the administration.
“That means you have got to work with other parties. That’s a given.”