The refugee crisis - how can you help?

Updated
Greece Migrants
Greece Migrants



Unless you're Katie Hopkins, it's impossible to see the footage of desperate Syrian refugees and not want to do something to help.

These people aren't economic migrants, simply looking for a more comfortable existence - they are fleeing for their lives. And because of this desperation, says the UN, more than 2,500 people have died or gone missing this year while crossing the Mediterranean in search of safety.

Already, around 4.5 million people are believed to have fled Syria, of whom just 5,569 have claimed asylum in Britain. However, the government won't say how many more refugees will be admitted, and has refused to take part in a European quota system that would see 18,000 people taken in.

But there are ways you can help at home.

1. Give cash
With a crisis on this scale, dozens of charities are attempting to help.

The UN Refugee Agency is providing medicine and food, stoves and fuel for heating, insulation for tents, thermal blankets and winter clothing.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders is operating three rescue ships in the Mediterranean and providing medical services and clean water to refugees.

Save the Children is supplying food for Syrian children and supporting education in refugee camps; and Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS) uses its rescue vessel, MY Phoenix, to prevent migrant deaths at sea.

And all proceeds given to the Aylan Kurdi Fund, created in honour of the little boy drowned last week, will go to the humanitarian agency Hand in Hand for Syria.

2. Give goods
Calais People to People Solidarity is collecting items such as clothes, shoes and sleeping bags from drop-off points around the country and delivering them to migrants and refugees at Calais.

Kindness for Kos, based in Greece, is a similar project that's looking for non-perishable food, tents, clothing and blankets.

Meanwhile, an Amazon Wishlist has been created, making donating goods as simple as clicking a button. It lists specific items needed by families in Greece and Calais, from bin bags and Basmati rice to bicycles and buckets. Buy an item, and it's automatically shipped to Help Calais, which will make sure it gets to the right person.

3. Offer a room
Pope Francis has called on every parish in Europe to take in at least one refugee family, although the Vatican itself has only pledged to take two. Bob Geldof has said he'll take in four.

So far, there isn't an organised way to do this in the UK. But one website, Refugees Welcome, is looking for people to set up a UK branch. Through its current operations in Germany, Austria and elsewhere, it matches up householders with suitable refugees, and has found homes for 124 so far. Costs are covered by EU funds, as well as by donations to the site.

Meanwhile, Ten Thousand Homes for Syrian Refugees has been inspired by the 10,000 rooms given to children who arrived in the UK on the Kindertransport in the 1930s, and is calling for more refugees to be taken in. More than 2,500 people have signed up so far to say they are prepared to offer a room or other practical help.

In London, Finchley Progressive Synagogue is calling on private landlords to offer accommodation. They wouldn't, says the synagogue, end up out of pocket as the EU would fund placements for the first year.

4. Campaign
There are plenty of petitions doing the rounds calling on the government to do more. This one asks for the UK to take in a number of people proportional to the rest of Europe, and has received nearly half a million signatures so far.

On 12 September, tens of thousands of people are expected to march in London as part of Solidarity with Refugees, with the aim of influencing government policy ahead of EU talk.

And don't forget to write to your MP, asking what they plan to do about the crisis.

5. Volunteer
A group set up by Avaaz and Citizens UK is signing up people who can pledge to volunteer their time and energy if refugees are resettled in their local area.

Right now, it says, the most urgent need is for people to contact their local council and urge it to offer a home to refugees. After that, people will be needed to offer housing, mentoring and English language tuition. All volunteers will be given specialist training.

And Refugee Resource provides specialist therapeutic support for refugees that make it this far. As well as urgently needing cash donations, it's looking for volunteers with professional skills such as office management, accounting and marketing, and people willing to befriend refugees via its mentoring scheme.


The Problem With The Way We View Syria's Growing Refugee Crisis
The Problem With The Way We View Syria's Growing Refugee Crisis



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