​Glasgow charity sends container to Balkans with another to follow

A Glasgow charity has come to the aid of desperate refugees – by shipping a container full of essential items donated by kind Scots.

Glasgow the Caring City is shipping the 40 foot container to the Balkans for refugees fleeing Syria and includes items such as soap and clothing.

And as one container leaves the city, another is being filled in preparation to be sent in the next few weeks.

Projects manager Ross Galbraith said it showed how much Glasgow people cared for the refugees and that the general public had been moved into action by their desperate plight.

He said: “Everybody has something to contribute. Whether it’s donating clothes, or volunteering or even giving a heartwarming message.

Everybody has something to contribute - Ross Galbraith

“I’ve been doing this for 16 years, I’ve helped organise aid for other humanitarian disasters like the tsunami and Pakistani earthquake and I’ve never seen anything on this scale Scotland-wide.

“We’ve worked with as many groups in Scotland as we can and we’re getting aid from the whole country – from the Isle of Skye to Aberdeen, to the Borders to Arran.”

The situation facing refugees stranded in Europe after feeling Syria has become a huge problem with Scots politicians now urging the Westminster government to urgently do more.

At a Holyrood debate yesterday (Tuesday) Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "The UK government’s plans don’t go far enough in terms of their scale, timing, partnership working or inclusivity. We can and must do more.

"We need to work with our European partners in responding to the biggest humanitarian crisis in a generation. Piecemeal, unilateral action isn’t the answer."