Council agrees support for refugees

On Monday evening Dundee City Council unanimously agreed to support the council taking part in the Syrian Vulnerable Person Relocation Scheme. (The report is on pages 3-5 of the document.)  I have previously stated by support for refugees.  There is still a lot of details to work out with regard to this scheme and I have asked about the numbers that the council might be able to welcome. 

It was good to speak to people outside the meeting who were making the point that refugees are welcome in Dundee.  It was also good to hear from the deputations in the meeting about the work which is going on to offer practical help to refugees.  One of the main ones is the Dundee Refugee Support group, their Facebook page is here, please support them if you can. My colleague Councillor Kevin Keenan asked that the council look at what support it can give either in kind or in a charitable donations to support the work of these organisations in Dundee.

I was pleased that the council spoke with one voice on Monday evening.  It is important that we continue to look for ways to support refugees and also find a solution to the problems which cause people to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.