Brevik House break-in leaves refugee volunteers ‘sickened’

A collection point for goods and clothing donated to help people caught up in the global refugee crisis has been ransacked, adding a major headache to volunteers’ plans to help address the international humanitarian problem.

Members of the Shetland Solidarity with Refugees group were left shocked and “utterly sickened” when they discovered Brevik House had been broken into yesterday morning.

The previous NHS Shetland building was being used as a drop-off point for clothing, sleeping bags and other items, following a request from refugee charity Care4Calais.

But now the humanitarian group says it will have to look for another location, because Brevik is “not a safe site”.

However, it is determined that its work in providing help to those in need will continue.

The discovery was made when volunteer Rita Smith went into the premises and found a mess of items strewn across the floor.

Lights had also been smashed, glass scattered and several items that people had donated were broken. A crowdfunding page was later set up to help raise money.

The incident comes after Sound Primary School was broken into, as well as a store close to Alex Morrison’s shop in Lerwick.

An entry on Shetland Solidarity with Refugees Facebook page read: “I am seriously annoyed, disappointed and utterly sickened by the horrible act of vandalism that has been perpetrated in Brevik sometime since Saturday teatime.

“The place is a mess, items broken and ruined. “Unfortunately due to this we will no longer be receiving items at Brevik as it is not a safe site. “We will be trying to clear up and sort out over the next days. We will put up new posts when we know WHEN and WHERE we will be collecting again.

“This won’t stop us or put us off, we’ll be back with more updates as soon as possible.”

• More reaction in this week’s Shetland Times.