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In the face of thousands of migrant deaths and overflowing borders, one country has set itself aside from the rest by calling for more refugees to be sent, rather than to be turned away.
Following the tragic death of a three-year-old boy who washed ashore on a Turkish beach, one of the world’s biggest refugee crises since the Second World War is fast nearing its pinnacle.
Millions of men, women and children have been reported to have fled from their home territories of Syria and Afghanistan to seek asylum in foreign countries, with the United Nations reporting that more than 4 million Syrians have fled their homes, leaving another 7.6 million displaced. Millions have also been reported to have fled war-torn Afghanistan.
Whilst hundreds have fled south to Australasia, thousands have begun the long and perilous journey into Europe, where they hope to find refuge in countries such as Germany, Turkey, France and England.
Since embarking on these dangerous journeys, refugee death tolls have risen exponentially around the world.
The United Nations have reported that thousands have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean, including more than one hundred migrants who bodies washed ashore in Libya last week.
Following that discovery, hours later more than 50 refugees were found decomposing, concealed within a truck crossing into Austria.
It is scenes like this that have prompted Iceland to put out a call to raise their refugee quota.
Since its initial legislation that stated only 50 refugees would be accepted into the small island, a heartfelt campaign among residents has prompted almost 15,000 people to offer up their homes to migrants in need.
The Facebook campaign, which was struck up by Icelandic author Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir, has inspired a heartfelt outcry amongst the Icelandic people encouraging the government to open its borders.
Speaking on Icelandic show, RUV, Bjorgvinsdottir commented that, “I think people have had enough of seeing news stories from the Mediterranean and refugee camps of dying people and they want something done now.”
The author spoke at length about the open letter she composed to Iceland’s social affairs minister, Eygló Harðardóttir, within which she spoke about the refugees as ‘human resources’.
“They are our future spouses, best friends, the next soulmate, a drummer for our children’s band, the next colleague, Miss Iceland in 2022, the carpenter who finally finishes the bathroom, the cook in the cafeteria, a fireman and television host,” read the letter.
“People of whom we’ll never be able to say in the future: ‘Your life is worth less than my life’.”
In response, thousands of Icelanders have co-signed the letter, saying that they are more than happy to pay for plane tickets and housing.
“I’m a single mother with a six-year-old son,” wrote a supporter, Hekla Stefansdottir, “We can take a child in need. I’m a teacher and would teach the child to speak, read and write Icelandic and adjust to Icelandic society.”
“We have clothes, a bed, toys and everything a child needs. I would of course pay for the aeroplane ticket.”
And it seems the Icelander’s cry has not fallen on deaf ears.
The government, known for their liberality and low corruption rates, has since created a special committee of ministers to debate raising the country’s refugee ‘quota’.
“It has been our goal in international politics to be of help in as many areas as possible and this is one of the areas where the need is most right now,” said Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson.
Social Affairs minister, Eygló Harðardóttir, commented that Iceland was “one of the richest nations in the world and we can accept many more [refugees] than we have been accepting in the past”.
Over 15,000 Facebook users have responded to the call to open their doors.
But not every country is as welcoming as Iceland; countries around Northern Europe have begun to implement measures to block migrant influxes across borders.
Hungary has reportedly sealed off their railway terminal in an attempt to stem the flow of refugees, whilst Bulgaria has chosen to build a wall along their border, with reports suggesting England has plans to do the same in the French port of Calais.
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico commented that he would move to block a motion by the UN that would call for an even “quota” distribution among Northern Europe.
“We strongly reject any quotas … If a mechanism for automatic redistribution of migrants is adopted, then we will wake up one day and have 100,000 people from the Arab world and that is a problem I would not like Slovakia to have,” he said in a recent press conference.
“We are prepared to do what is needed and what is within our possibilities, for people who really need help, separate them from economic migrants.”
