0:00:05 > 0:00:08In September 2015,
0:00:08 > 0:00:10the UK government made a commitment
0:00:10 > 0:00:13to resettling 20,000 Syrian refugees into the UK.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17Scotland responded with a 2,000 pledge of people
0:00:17 > 0:00:22and Aberdeenshire Council pledged to resettle up to 50 Syrian families
0:00:22 > 0:00:25over the next four or five years.
0:00:25 > 0:00:27Were you here last week?
0:00:27 > 0:00:28SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:00:28 > 0:00:29OK.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32'When the families first arrive in Aberdeenshire,
0:00:32 > 0:00:35'they are absolutely terrified.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39'They don't know how to access any of the essential services they need.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41'All the families that we have are here
0:00:41 > 0:00:44'through the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme'
0:00:44 > 0:00:46so they have real emergencies, real urgencies.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49They have medical conditions, serious medical conditions.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Others have been victims of warfare or torture.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:00:58 > 0:01:01His son has got haemophilia
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and now currently he lives in Dubai on his own
0:01:03 > 0:01:06and he doesn't have the right medication,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08it's not provided there.
0:01:08 > 0:01:12So they're trying to bring him here so he can be with the family.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Just have a look. You know when you're steaming,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18make sure there's no marks.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20They were absolutely adamant
0:01:20 > 0:01:22that they didn't want to just be in receipt of support,
0:01:22 > 0:01:25that it was always about what they could contribute,
0:01:25 > 0:01:27what they could give back.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Everybody wants to work, a number of people are volunteering.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33- Can I get one apple juice as well? - Apple juice.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35And that's super because they're volunteering,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37it's real integration, they're in environments where
0:01:37 > 0:01:40they may still not be speaking an awful lot of English
0:01:40 > 0:01:42but they're getting by and they're functioning
0:01:42 > 0:01:44and they're meeting English speakers every day.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47- What's your name?- Jakey.
0:01:47 > 0:01:48I am Bassel.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Refugee resettlement is brutal, absolutely brutal.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53It's just another...
0:01:53 > 0:01:56another step in a very, very difficult,
0:01:56 > 0:01:58emotional, arduous journey.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00It's not an end result.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04People are incredibly grateful, they couldn't be more grateful,
0:02:04 > 0:02:09more thankful to be safe, to be receiving medical treatment,
0:02:09 > 0:02:11to be given support
0:02:11 > 0:02:15but they still have to live every day with the realities.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25SHE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:02:25 > 0:02:27They used to be a very happy family,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30small family, happy, content,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34medication is available for their children.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Then the war started and they had to move,
0:02:36 > 0:02:41they were displaced, even within Syria from one place to the other.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43For some, they had to flee immediately,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46their houses were destroyed.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51For others, it was more fear of what could happen.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55The one thing that did happen was that many families separated
0:02:55 > 0:02:59and, in particular, families with young sons tended to be separated.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01HE SPEAKS IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Although they're safe and happy here
0:03:04 > 0:03:06and everything is available for them
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and they feel secure but still,
0:03:08 > 0:03:11there is a big part missing from their life.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15He goes to bed every night thinking about his son.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18What is he doing, is he feeling all right, is he safe,
0:03:18 > 0:03:21does he have his medicine?
0:03:21 > 0:03:25And it's the case for every single Syrian family here.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27No matter how much they progress here,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30they love their sons and daughters when they were five and 15,
0:03:30 > 0:03:33now that they're 25, they don't love them any less
0:03:33 > 0:03:35but because they're adults,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38they're not necessarily allowed to have them with them.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41We've learned a huge amount about how people live their lives,
0:03:41 > 0:03:46how similar we are in lots of ways and actually our differences,
0:03:46 > 0:03:49they aren't the ones that we think they are.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52They're not about religion, politics,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54they're about whether you like
0:03:54 > 0:03:57four spoonfuls of sugar in your coffee or two.
0:03:57 > 0:04:02They're simple things that separate us, not the big things.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05But it's an experience that's been an honour to be part of.