Fairer Scotland

World Refugee Day

June 20, 2020 by Aileen Campbell No Comments | Category Community and Place, Uncategorized

For twenty years, thousands of people from across Scotland have come together to show solidarity with refugees by celebrating the Refugee Festival Scotland and marking World Refugee Day. While we cannot physically gather together this year, it is as important as ever to show our support for people who have had to leave their homes and countries, often due to violence and war, in search of a place of safety.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell

The theme of World Refugee Day is Every Action Counts and this year, it could not be more relevant. In these unprecedented times, we are now all aware of how at any time we can face uncertainty and challenges which are beyond our control and which remind us of the need to stay safe and protect our families and neighbours. It is also during this current pandemic that we have yet again seen people take action, supporting and protecting each other and helping brighten these difficult times

Throughout lockdown refugee families and community groups have been working hard to help their local area. In Clackmannanshire refugee families have come together to support key workers and their local community. This has included making pizzas and cakes for an older people’s charity and delivering more than 100 meals for local healthcare workers and police officers.

In Aberdeenshire, the As-Salam community group has donated over 100 meals for NHS staff and homeless people. There have also been volunteer sewers quietly working away at home, who have created an estimated 1,500 scrub bags and over 500 face coverings. Sewing skills have also been put to good use in Paisley, where the Sewing2gether All Nations community group have made more than 300 hearts to help support people separated from loved ones. Pairs of hearts have enabled COVID-19 patients and their families to have something to hold on to as a symbol of their connection and support.

And of course, people who arrived in Scotland as refugees are right now working on the frontline of the NHS, bringing their skills and experience as nurses, doctors, carers and scientists.

I want to thank everyone who is working so hard to keep us safe and well.

It has been my privilege as Cabinet Secretary to meet with refugees and people seeking asylum across the country. I have always been struck by the resilience and strength of people and families as they face the challenges of settling into a new home. It is humbling to see people, many of whom have only lived in Scotland a few short years, volunteer their skills and experience to support their local communities.

As many regular activities have had to pause, local authorities, support organisations and communities across Scotland have found new ways to make sure that refugees are not isolated and can still access the essentials they need. More support has been provided by phone or using digital methods. Volunteers with MOOL, the Dumfries and Galloway Refugee Action group, have kept in touch with resettled refugee families by phone and letters which have been translated into Arabic. While in Falkirk, the Rainbow Muslim Women’s Group has been providing essential food packages and prescription pick-ups for people who need them, including refugees, older people and low-income families.

On World Refugee Day, let’s recognise every action that refugees and communities across Scotland are taking to support one another. Let’s look for opportunities to demonstrate understanding, compassion and kindness. Let’s share our hope that when we meet together again and we will continue to build strong, resilient and supportive communities. We will have a lot to celebrate and, no matter how small, every action counts.

Background

• World Refugee Day has been recognised and celebrated on 20 June since 2001, when it was adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
• The United Nations theme for World Refugee Day 2020 is Every Action Counts. https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day
• 2020 would have marked 20 years of Refugee Festival Scotland, coordinated by Scottish Refugee Council: https://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/world-refugee-day-2020/

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