Syrian refugees who settled on a Scottish island complain about the abundance of old people
Twelve families from war-torn Syria have started life with a clean slate in the town of Rothesay on the island of Bute, Scotland. They try to learn English, but they still feel out of place.
A specially designed program allowed Syrian refugees to start a new life in Scotland, away from the horrors of the war of their native country. But recently, several Syrians who were granted asylum in Rothesay 8 months ago said that they were extremely unhappy on the island, that Bute was just "populated by elderly people who come there to die."
Two Syrian families also said that they were unbearably ashamed to receive money raised by charity, but immediately added that they really like the Scots and the windy unpredictable climate. Experiencing difficulties with English, the fathers of families (both used to have their own business) most of the time try not to leave the house, and if they do leave the premises, they walk only along the embankment, acutely feeling lonely.
(3 photos in total)
In the photo: 35-year-old Rasha with her husband Abd and two children believe that Scotland is a beautiful country, but the island where they live is "full of elderly people ... who come here to die."
42-year-old Abd (names and surnames have been changed, as the family has relatives in Syria) was at first very glad that they would go to the UK, a free country. But they were assigned to an island with a population of 6,498 people, who earns only on summer tourism. The rest of the time there is no work, and the average age of residents is 55-59 years. "Nothing is happening on the island, absolutely no movement. It's not just boredom. I am depressed. It feels like the only way out is to die here," says Abd.
In the photo: 41-year-old Hassan with his wife Fatima and daughters. Both families would be happy to move to Glasgow or Manchester. Abd believes that if they were in the Arab community, they would adapt faster and learn English, find a job.
In Syria, Abd and Hassan were arrested and tortured, so they gladly jumped at the opportunity to leave their neighborhood, which was already destroyed by the war.
Only 0.3% of the island's population is an ethnic minority. Bute is a picturesque island, but Rothesay has a high unemployment rate.
The official representatives of the region and the island said that they were very sorry that two families were unhappy in their new place, but this is not the opinion of the majority of refugee families.
Keywords: Refugees | Unemployment | Uk | Complaints | Island | Syria | Scotland