Icelanders offer up homes to Syrian refugees
When the Icelandic government announced it would accept 50 refugees, its citizens rallied, using a Facebook event page to volunteer their homes and pressure the government to grant more refugees asylum.
On Sunday, award-winning author Bryndis Bjorgvinsdottir set up the page Syria is Calling. The group aims to present Iceland's welfare minister Eygló Harðardóttir a list of volunteers willing to house Syrian refugees.
More than 16,000 people had joined the page as of Thursday afternoon, though not all of them are Icelandic.
Icelandic volunteers, supporters from other countries and many who purport to be Syrians attempting to find their way to Iceland have all posted to the page. Bjorgvinsdottir has offered to pay for the flights of five Syrians and house them with a friend.
On Monday, Eyglo Arnarsdottir heard about the Facebook group on the news. She was unimpressed with the number of refugees the government said it would accept, so the next day she signed up to volunteer with the Red Cross.
"It's one of the biggest human crises we've seen in my lifetime at least," said the 35-year-old journalist in Reykjavik. She's waiting to hear from the Red Cross about how she can assist, though she says she could help teach them Icelandic and guide them around her city.
"I think it's an obligation all of us have to help in any way. With my effort, if I could help one person or one family, it would be worth it."
The Icelandic Red Cross has praised the Facebook group.
"It is without a doubt due to this support on social media that on Tuesday, almost 100 volunteers showed up at Red Cross headquarters to complete their registration as active volunteers, ready to provide assistance," the organization wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
Perhaps inspired by Icelandic efforts, a few Canadians have taken to the page to offer refugees a place to live.
"I will pay for flights for three. I can and will support them till they support themselves," wrote Michelle Blanchard, who added that she lives in Edmonton with rooms to spare.
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