The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Brexit halts Fife aid donations to refugee camps
‘Sad occasion’ as leaving EU poses roadblocks for group’s vital help
A Fife group which provides support and solidarity to refugees across Europe is to stop delivering donations amid fears about Brexit, it has emerged.
Refuge Fife has been supporting people left stranded in camps and at the sides of roads across the continent as they flee from war.
The apolitical organisation has confirmed it intends to cease taking truckloads of essential items to the hardest hit areas before the end of the year because of difficulties it foresees when the UK exits the European Union.
A spokesperson for the group said it will have its regular donation day in Kirkcaldy on Saturday, a further one in mid-November and there are no more planned. Clothes, nappies, blankets and other items including £550 in cash were collected at last month’s donations day.
“Taking the donations over to Europe once we have left the EU poses huge implications for us as a charity,” the spokesperson explained.
“We transport all our aid by road, which means driving across several countries in Europe and crossing quite a few borders. None of this will be easy after Brexit. In addition to this, the camps we support are undergoing changes so we are having to review how we will best meet their needs.”
The group, which campaigns for the UK to take in more refugees than are currently being permitted entry, is supported by councillors on Fife Council, Solidarity candidate Bill Mair, Fife Arabic Society, FRAE Fife, Kirkcaldy Islamic Centre, Fife Asian Society, RISE: Fife, Kirkcaldy Central Mosque and the Fife Romanian Society.
Much of the focus in recent months has been on the Greek island of Samos, where thousands of refugees fleeing war-torn areas have been forced to live in squalid conditions.
Jan McCall, a volunteer responsible for initially bringing together Refuge Fife and the ReAct group in Edinburgh, told volunteers: “What we have achieved together in Fife has been incredible – thank you for that.
“So it’s a sad occasion for us, but we also feel proud of all we have done to help the many refugees who are still living in abject poverty in camps across Europe.
“Let’s make these final two donation days our best ever.”
The group will be collecting winter clothes, warm jumpers for children, nappies, sleeping bags and basic toiletries at the next donations day at the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Kirkcaldy’s Winifred Crescent from 10am to 1pm on Saturday. That will be followed by the final donations day, again in Kirkcaldy, on Saturday November 17.
Sir, – Since 2016 I have listened to and read copious amounts of garbage regarding Brexit.
This includes the massaging of oversized egos of incompetent politicians.
This year we are remembering with sorrow and admiration the men and women who gave their lives in the First World War, a war that devastated Europe.
Next year we will remember the beginning of the Second World War.
This was yet another devastating conflict that not only obliterated the infrastructure of all European countries involved, it left all of them – including the United Kingdom – bankrupt.
Yes, we got financial aid from America, but, the countries in Western Europe had to show they could work together before they qualified for this financial aid.
Out of this shared commitment to each other was born the European Community.
Several times Britain was invited to join but refused, then after the failure of EFTA Britain decided they wanted to join the EEC.
If the egotistical Tories of today took a look back into history they would realise that when we work together as a community with the other countries of Europe, our people are better off.
In 2016 Scotland, Northern Ireland and London all voted to remain but our voices were disregarded.
What happened to the promise in 2014 that remaining in the UK was the only chance of Scotland remaining in the EU?
Elizabeth Fordyce. 25 Forthill Drive, Broughty Ferry.