This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/01/icelanders-call-on-government-to-take-in-more-syrian-refugees
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Icelanders call on government to take in more Syrian refugees | Icelanders call on government to take in more Syrian refugees |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Icelanders have called on their government to take in more Syrian refugees – with many offering to house them in their own homes and give them language lessons. | |
| Iceland, which has a population of just over 300,000, has currently capped the number of refugees it accepts at 50. | Iceland, which has a population of just over 300,000, has currently capped the number of refugees it accepts at 50. |
| Author and professor Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir put out a call on Facebook on Sunday asking for Icelanders to speak out if they wanted the government to do more to help those fleeing Syria. More than 12,000 people have responded to her Facebook group “Syria is calling” to sign an open letter to their welfare minister, Eygló Harðar. | Author and professor Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir put out a call on Facebook on Sunday asking for Icelanders to speak out if they wanted the government to do more to help those fleeing Syria. More than 12,000 people have responded to her Facebook group “Syria is calling” to sign an open letter to their welfare minister, Eygló Harðar. |
| “Refugees are human resources, they have experience and skills,” the letter said. “Refugees are our future spouses, best friends, or soulmates, the drummer for the band of our children, our next colleague, Miss Iceland in 2022, the carpenter who finally finished the bathroom, the cook in the cafeteria, the fireman, the computer genius, or the television host.” | “Refugees are human resources, they have experience and skills,” the letter said. “Refugees are our future spouses, best friends, or soulmates, the drummer for the band of our children, our next colleague, Miss Iceland in 2022, the carpenter who finally finished the bathroom, the cook in the cafeteria, the fireman, the computer genius, or the television host.” |
| Related: Syrian refugees: four million people forced to flee as crisis deepens | Related: Syrian refugees: four million people forced to flee as crisis deepens |
| Many of those posting on the group have said they would offer up their homes and skills to help refugees integrate. “I have clothing, kitchenware, bed and a room in Hvanneyri [western Iceland], which I am happy to share with Syrians,” one wrote. “I would like to work as a volunteer to help welcome people and assist them with adapting to Icelandic society.” | Many of those posting on the group have said they would offer up their homes and skills to help refugees integrate. “I have clothing, kitchenware, bed and a room in Hvanneyri [western Iceland], which I am happy to share with Syrians,” one wrote. “I would like to work as a volunteer to help welcome people and assist them with adapting to Icelandic society.” |
| “I want to help one displaced family have the chance to live the carefree life that I do,” another wrote. “We as a family are willing to provide the refugees with temporary housing near Egilsstaðir [eastern Iceland], clothing and other assistance. I am a teacher and I can help children with their learning.” | “I want to help one displaced family have the chance to live the carefree life that I do,” another wrote. “We as a family are willing to provide the refugees with temporary housing near Egilsstaðir [eastern Iceland], clothing and other assistance. I am a teacher and I can help children with their learning.” |
| Speaking on Iceland’s RÚV television, Bjorgvinsdottir said: “I think people have had enough of seeing news stories from the Mediterranean and refugee camps of dying people and they want something done now.” | Speaking on Iceland’s RÚV television, Bjorgvinsdottir said: “I think people have had enough of seeing news stories from the Mediterranean and refugee camps of dying people and they want something done now.” |
| Iceland’s prime minister, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, said he was aware of increasing popular pressure to take in more refugees. “I assume that during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting I will propose the establishment of a special committee of ministers to discuss the problem and evaluate how Icelanders can respond, how we can contribute as much as possible,” he told RÚV. | Iceland’s prime minister, Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, said he was aware of increasing popular pressure to take in more refugees. “I assume that during Tuesday’s cabinet meeting I will propose the establishment of a special committee of ministers to discuss the problem and evaluate how Icelanders can respond, how we can contribute as much as possible,” he told RÚV. |
| “It has been our goal in international politics to be of help in as many areas as possible and this is one of the areas where the need is most right now.” | “It has been our goal in international politics to be of help in as many areas as possible and this is one of the areas where the need is most right now.” |
| Iceland was recently named the world’s most peaceful country in the Global Peace Index, with Syria the least peaceful. | Iceland was recently named the world’s most peaceful country in the Global Peace Index, with Syria the least peaceful. |