MORE than 5000 refugees fleeing war in Ukraine have arrived in Edinburgh, the City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed.
Of those who have come to or through the city, 2222 were warmly received by council officers and volunteers at Edinburgh’s Welcome Hub – where volunteers have clocked up at least 3465 hours day and night over 496 shifts, providing 536 rucksacks filled with donations and support to arrivals and their hosts.
To provide this advice and access to vital services, 1175 hours of translation have taken place. And now, with arrival numbers only expected to increase, Ukrainian refugees are being employed by the council as interpreters and customer care team members to provide extra assistance.
Visiting the Hub and the Ukrainian Club ahead of World Refugee Da on June 20, council leader Cammy Day thanked volunteers and officers and hailed the way in which the city has come together to support those in desperate need.
He said: “Seeing families arrive and find their feet in Edinburgh has brought home the sheer scale of our city’s ongoing response to this crisis.
“It was so moving to hear the lengths to which our staff and volunteers are going to in order to provide the best possible welcome to our Ukrainian guests as they take their first steps towards a life of safety here in Scotland. Some are working incredibly long hours, seven days a week, to be there to help and to ensure everyone can get a roof over their head regardless of what time of day it is.
“The city has already welcomed more than 5000 people, with 2222 arriving through the Hub. The majority of arrivals in the country have been landing here in Edinburgh. The scale of support we need to offer is huge and this is only increasing – from accommodation, interpretation and education, to host checks and health and social care, transport, counselling, and financial advice.
“We know that Edinburgh’s population swells in August so we’re already looking at how we can manage capacity and speaking to the Scottish Government about this. Because services will be under strain, we need to work together with our partners and those in the private sector so that all arrivals continue to receive what they need.
“The way in which Edinburgh has come together to support people in such desperate need of our help fills me with hope and pride.”
