Egyptian billionaire offers to buy island for refugees

An Egyptian billionaire has put forward his plan to help ease the refugee crisis.

Naguib Sawiris is in the market for a private island, and intends to buy one in order to create space for the many refugees and migrants that have been fleeing across the Mediterranean in recent weeks. His plans were initially announced on his Twitter page... https://twitter.com/NaguibSawiris/status/638753801655177217 https://twitter.com/NaguibSawiris/status/638754021470289920 But even after acknowledging himself that his plan is 'crazy', Sawiris appears to be giving it some serious thought. "Greece or Italy sell me an island," Sawiris tweeted later on. "I'll call its independence and host the migrants and provide jobs for them building their new country." He's now followed his tweets with a series of interviews with the media. "You have dozens of islands which are deserted and could accommodate hundreds of thousands of refugees," Sawiris said in his interview with AFP. "And if things improve, whoever wants to go back goes back." His incredible offer extends to offering temporary shelters whilst refugees are paid to build housing and other facilities such as schools, universities, hospitals.