Argyll responds to refugee crisis
THE WORLD’S refugee crisis has hit home with people in Argyll with thousands of donations being made over the last few days to charities and collecting points.
Oban, Taynuilt, Tiree, Seil - the response has been called ‘overwhelming’ with donations coming in from all over the area.
The humanitarian crisis was crystallised for many people with one image used throughout UK media last week. It touched the hearts of people throughout and the response in north Argyll was to do something.
The picture was of threeyear- old Aylan Kurdi from Syria, who had drowned after the boat he was travelling in with his family, from Turkey to Greece, capsized.
Aylan is one of more than 3,000 people this year who have drowned while trying to reach Europe.
The United Nations reports that more that 42,000 people every day are being forced to leave their homes to travel elsewhere in their country or abroad.
Since the start of this year, more than 320,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean, undertaking treacherous journeys from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, and other countries torn apart by war, persecution, and a horrifying list of human miseries.
One in four refugees are from Syria and the vast majority of people are aged 18 and under.
Oban law graduate Emma Ainsley, 22, has started a collection to take items directly to Calais - through a registered organisation CalAid.
She has already been offered a van.
Emma explained: ‘I wanted to do something where I knew the aid would get through to people who really need support.
‘The advice we have been given is that warm clothes for men are really needed as well as sleeping bags and tents.’
Emma is offering to pick up items - phone 07796367928 - or they can be dropped off at 21 Argyll Square at Ainsley Smith and Co chartered accountants. She has set up a Facebook Argyll Relief for Refugees.
Oban’s Youth Cafe has been inundated with items after making a call for items to help displaced people.
The collection is now temporarily closed due to the sheer volume of items received. Organisers thanked everyone for donations which were ‘ way beyond expectations’.
A collection day in Taynuilt saw teacher Claire Bryden hold an afternoon for a humanitarian collection for the crisis in Europe at Taynuilt village hall.
She said: ‘Half of the
collection will go to Greece and half will join a convoy from Glasgow to Calais.’
A walk is due to take place on the isle of Tiree on Saturday, September 12, at 2pm at Gott Bay.
Islander Hannah Wright said: ‘The people of Tiree will gather together in unison to demonstrate and walk Gott Bay beach to show that even the smallest islands of Britain are wanting their voices heard by our government to do more for the refugee crisis.’
Breege Smith, of Benderloch, added: ‘I’m running an event on September 18 at the rugby club and everyone attending has been asked to take along a bag of toiletries to send to refugee centres. The response has been fantastic.’