Volunteers For Refugees Arrive At Red Cross En Masse

The Icelandic Red Cross had a packed house as people wanting to help incoming refugees gathered for a meeting on what volunteers can do for the effort.

About 1,100 Icelanders have signed up for volunteer efforts in helping arriving refugees, RÚV reports. Icelandic Red Cross chairperson Sveinn Kristinsson thanked the attendees of today’s meeting, and then gave the floor to the project manager. Attendees were then briefed on what process arriving refugees go through, and how volunteers can take part.

The meeting is a culmination of sorts, beginning with a grassroots movement to pressure elected officials to bring in more refugees than they originally intended. The movement has broad public support, as about 90% of Icelanders say they would welcome more refugees.

Municipalities from tiny villages to large towns have joined the call, leading to the government to reconsider their original proposed refugee quota of 50, and to contact the UN to let them know that Iceland is ready to accept more refugees.

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