A first charter flight carrying dozens of Syrian refugees landed at Glasgow Airport
on Tuesday as part of British government plans to bring in 20,000 asylum-seekers
over the next five years.
The plane from Beirut, carrying around 100
people according to British media, is the first of
several flights in the coming weeks expected to
transport 1,000 of the new arrivals by
Christmas.
“This is a proud day for Scotland,” the Scottish
government’s minister for Europe and
international development Humza Yousaf said
in a statement.
“I would like to extend the warmest of
welcomes on behalf of the people of Scotland to
the Syrian refugees who have arrived in
Glasgow today, and wish them all the best as
they are supported to start their new lives
here,” he said.
Prime Minister David Cameron has resisted calls
for Britain to take in more refugees and has said
it will only take in people from UN refugee
camps, warning that accepting arrivals in Europe
would encourage more people to make
dangerous journeys.
Home Secretary Theresa May said earlier that
the refugees have undergone “rigorous” checks,
following reports that one of the men who
carried out Friday’s attacks in Paris travelled
along a migrant route.
“There are two levels of screening that take
place” by the UN and the Home Office, including
“biometrics”, May told parliament on Monday.
New arrivals will be given a five-year visa
allowing them to remain in Britain, after which
they can apply for leave to remain longer.
“To the first refugees fleeing war-torn Syria
who will arrive at Glasgow Airport today, we’d
just like to say: ‘Welcome to Scotland’,” read a
front-page headline on Scotland’s The National
daily.
During a visit to Glasgow Central Mosque on
Monday, Scotland’s Frist Minister Nicola
Sturgeon warned against prejudice.
“I urge people not to let these terrorists win by
dividing us and driving a wedge between the
multi-cultural society Scotland is home to,” she
was quoted in an official statement as saying.
“We are due to welcome Syrian refugees to
Scotland tomorrow and we need to show that
we are a country of compassion and
acceptance,” she said.
“These people are fleeing their homes in the
search for protection and security, and we are
their refuge. We cannot let the actions of the
few destroy the safety of the many.”
Posted by: Philip Ochika
