DUNDEE MUST PLEDGE TO RELOCATE REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM THE AEGEAN HOTSPOT CAMPS IN GREECE!

There is a humanitarian crisis taking place at Europe’s borders. 37,500 refugees and asylum seekers are currently trapped on the Aegean islands, forced to live in dangerously overcrowded camps with limited medical services and inadequate sanitary facilities. These inhumane conditions are the result of  5 years of neglectful EU policies.

Even in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, EU leaders have remained indifferent or hesitant to act. The EU Commission has promised to relocate 1600 unaccompanied minors. A step in the right direction, but not good enough. The horrendous conditions in the Aegean camps make all inhabitants, regardless of age or health, extremely vulnerable. That this situation is allowed to persist is a blatant contradiction to all notions we share of being considerate to others with regards to hygiene and social distancing (if the food queue in Moria camp on Lesvos was to be socially distanced the line would stretch for 30km). In the past few weeks alone we have seen three devastating fires tear through the camps on Chios, Samos and Lesvos resulting in many hundreds of people losing all but the clothes on their back.

Europe cannot stand by and leave behind these children, women and men in such camps. We have the moral obligation to act: Europe Must Act! It is time for Dundee to show it is an example for other cities to follow, we must insist we are "Changing for the Future."

In order to save lives, the camps on the Aegean islands must be completely evacuated. On the 30th of March, the Mayor and citizens of Berlin pledged to take in 1,500 refugees. Now we are asking cities, towns and regions across Europe to join Berlin in offering sanctuary to the refugees stuck in overcrowded camps on the Greek islands. 

Will the people of the Dundee continue to give a warm welcome and be in solidarity with those seeking asylum from such unnecessarily brutal conditions? 

Together, we can send a clear signal to our leaders and national governments that Europe is willing and able to act on its humanitarian values and provide shelter to those who seek refuge from war and persecution. 

Lord Provost, Leader of the City Council, Councillors of the City of Dundee - will you make a pledge?

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Local Signatories:

(Do you know an organisation/business/band/... who would like to support our campaign? Let us know!)

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Scotland-wide Supporters:

NATECLA Scotland - National Association for Teaching English and Other Community Languages to Adults (Scotland branch)

Scottish Detainee Visitors

Students for Global Health

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UK-wide Supporters:

- AfE - Action for Education

- Baroness Jenny Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party) 

- Baroness Natalie Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party)

- Bras Not Bombs

- DropPoint

- FWRD - Festival Waste Reclamation and Distribution

- Help Refugees

- MARDi - Medical Aid for Refugees and Displaced People

- O's Refugee Aid Team

- People in Motion

- People not Borders

- Positive Action in Housing

- Refugee Rights Europe

- RefuNet

- Side by Side Refugees

(Can you help us reach more? Get in touch!)

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Don't forget to follow us on Twitter​, Instagram and Facebook to find out about our other Scottish campaigns and petitions, and join our Dundee Facebook group!

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*Update 07.06.21!*

There are now 12,100 refugees and asylum seekers in the Greek Aegean hotspot camps due to transfers to the mainland as well as several European countries.