COUNCIL bosses have been urged to speed up the resettlement of refugees in East Dunbartonshire by MSP Rona Mackay.
In December, councillors rubber-stamped plans to provide asylum to four Syrian families and four unaccompanied children from ‘The Jungle’ in Calais.
However, there has been radio silence since December 27 when the council leader Rhondda Geekie confirmed the wheels were in motion.
Ahead of meeting refugees at a Scottish Parliament breakfast on February 2, the MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden urged the council to speed up the process.
She said: “East Dunbartonshire Council has been terribly slow on showing compassion to the innocent victims of war in Syria, and the children escaping the nightmarish camp in Calais.
“It was unacceptable to begin with how the local authority was the second last in Scotland to even consider helping out in this humanitarian crisis.
“I am proud to be part of the plans to form a community welcoming group for the incoming families and children, and we would like to get helping as soon as possible.
“Syria lies in ruins and the brutal war shows no signs of ending – we must do all we can to help the civilians who have been forced to flee their homes. I call on East Dunbartonshire Council to show some commitment to its decision and speed up this resettlement process.
“I hope in the future we can accept more than a handful of people fleeing the carnage of Syria.”
Ms Mackay is also attending a breakfast in the Scottish Parliament on February 2 to meet activist Bruna Kadletz, who has been intensely involved in the refugee crisis, as well as others who have fled the war.
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