Global Migrant Crisis

Calls are intensifying for a national approach to be taken to tackle the global migrant crisis.

The issue will dominate talks at Holyrood this afternoon. Figures show 71% of the Mediterranean Sea arrivals are refugees coming from Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea.

The Scottish Refugee Council is calling on the European Union to do more, while the charity wants a national approach taken by councils, the Scottish and UK governments.

Meanwhile, Save the Children is urging MSPs to use today's debate to focus on the actions that can be taken to help children.

A spokesperson said:  "Save the Children is extremely disappointed at the painstakingly slow pace of decision making our European leaders have shown on the refugee crisis. Meeting in Brussels, EU Ministers look to have failed once again to take immediate and concrete measures to resolve the crisis. Urgent action is required when it comes to ensuring adequate reception, considering thousands of men, women and children are currently not assisted at all or packed into substandard and in some cases inhumane reception facilities in Greece and along the Balkans route. Their plight is getting more desperate by the day and they cannot afford for EU leaders to delay. We need to move from proposals to action. The EU can and must act now. Save the Children’s new 5 point plan sets out what European Ministers must do to stem the escalating humanitarian crisis.”

“Save the Children is extremely alarmed that thousands of children are caught up in chaos caused by certain European countries closing their borders. We know that when countries are overwhelmed with thousands upon thousands of refugee arrivals, children are particularly vulnerable. This has resulted, in many cases, in children having to sleep rough and being at risk of people trafficking, violence and exploitation.”

Save the Children’s new 5 point plan sets out what European Ministers must do to stem the escalating humanitarian crisis. The plan includes scaling up reception services, increased relocation and resettlement, greater aid to the countries refugees flee from, a call to maintain search and rescue operations at sea, and setting up safe routes to Europe.