Iceland Citizens Respond With Open Arms After Government Welcomes Just 50 Syrian Refugees

[flamingdem]

*Icelandic people rock

Syria is currently the biggest source of refugees in the world. Nearly four million people have been forced to flee from their homes, driven away by the dual threat of war and terrorism.

Many neighboring countries have opened up borders to help feed and house the influx of those in need. Almost two million are currently in Turkey, one million are in Lebanon and nearly 630,000 are in Jordan, with tens of thousands more arriving every month, according to the UN Refugee Agency. They've also made their way to Europe, where the migration wave is taking a toll on regional resources.

Iceland recently announced it has a refugee acceptance cap of just 50 people. In response to this number, a prominent Icelandic author, Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir, posted an open letter on Facebook titled "Syria is calling," and encouraged concerned Icelanders to use the page to communicate with welfare minister Eygló Harðar. More than 12,000 have responded so far, with many offering to take in Syrian refugees.

“I’m happy to look after children, take them to kindergarten, school and wherever they need," one post, translated by the Iceland Review, reads. "I can cook for people and show them friendship and warmth. I can pay the airfare for one small family. I can contribute with my expertise and assist pregnant women with pre-natal care.”

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. According to Google and NPR, the US has taken only about 1000 Syrian refugees.

And Iceland only has around 320k people, 1000 times fewer than the US.

If the US was taking, per capita, the same percentage of refugees as Iceland, we'd be taking in 50000 Syrian refugees.

So I'm not really sure you should say 'jut 50' for Iceland.

[flamingdem]

2. If given the chance

I think US citizens would help.

The effort should be organized, it took just one person in Iceland's case. I sense that there is a person like that in the US taking heed.

[Fred Sanders]

3. Iceland needs immigrants, as do all under-inhabited lands with space to burn. Always has been the same.

[pampango]

4. In liberal countries the popular pressure is to take in more refugees. In RW countries the opposite

is the case.

“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.”

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.”

Iceland was recently named the world’s most peaceful country in the Global Peace Index, with Syria the least peaceful.

The open letter and offers of assistance from ordinary citizens reflects a shifting attitude towards refugees in some parts of Europe. Over the weekend, German football fans held up signs at matches welcoming those fleeing persecution, and the German tabloid Bild, not renowned for its liberal attitudes towards immigration, has taken up the cause. Martin Patzelt, an MP from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party, has temporarily housed two Eritrean refugees in his home in Brandenburg.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/01/icelanders-call-on-government-to-take-in-more-syrian-refugees

After reading about right wing protests and even arson attacks against refugees it is nice to read about truly liberal responses to the crisis. Countries with conservative governments are taking the fewest refugees. In some cases even building 'Trump-style' walls to stop them. Those welcoming refugees are the most liberal countries on the continent.

Nice OP.