King Charles meets refugees in Aberdeen

The King has met families from Afghanistan, Ukraine and Syria who person settled successful Aberdeen.

They included the Vesal household from Afghanistan who were fixed a location past twelvemonth by a pistillate moved by their plight.

Burhan Vesal had been an interpreter for British forces. He and woman Narcis and lad Sepehr were fixed a location by section pistillate Helga Macfarlane.

King Charles was told of the programme to re-settle refugees successful Aberdeen during a reception successful the Town House.

Aberdeen has resettled astir 1,000 Ukrainian refugees, with capableness for more.

About 170 Afghan refugees are presently staying successful 2 hotels.

And astir 30 Syrian families person besides been resettled successful the Granite City since 2014.

The King heard idiosyncratic stories from families astir their evacuation, their accomplishment successful Aberdeen and immoderate of the challenges they person faced.

Mr Vesal said of his family's accomplishment from Afghanistan: "I had heard large things astir Aberdeen, its radical and the community. We consciousness blessed to person recovered bully enactment here.

"My lad has made galore friends successful schoolhouse and my household is precise blessed here."

Inna Skvortsova was besides there.

The 34-year-old erstwhile circuit relation fled Kyiv aft the Russian penetration and present works successful a invited hub which offers exigency accommodation.

"I would similar to dedicate myself to assistance due to the fact that I tin lend myself," she said.

"Maybe my skills from my erstwhile occupation and acquisition tin beryllium useful. I privation to bash thing good."

She described gathering the King arsenic an honour.

Lord-Lieutenant Dr David Cameron, who accompanied the King during his visit, said: "We were greatly honoured to stock with King Charles III however we arsenic a metropolis person responded to devastating satellite events.

"It was particularly moving for the King to perceive first-hand from immoderate of those who person suffered straight arsenic a effect of struggle crossed the globe; those who person mislaid their homes and more.

"Thanks to the compassion and generosity of Aberdeen's organisations and residents, we person been capable to widen the steadying and loving manus of relationship successful welcoming them to our city."

Before the King's departure, a choir made up of schoolhouse children, assemblage students and immoderate of the exile families sang The Northern Lights Of Old Aberdeen.

On his accomplishment earlier helium besides took clip to shingle hands with members of the nationalist who had gathered outside.