The First Minister has called for the UK government to take a "humane" approach and to welcome refugees from camps on the Greek Aegean Islands.

Addressing the Home Secretary Pritti Patel in a letter, Sturgeon emphasised the human rights breaches the asylum seekers are being forced to bear.

About 30,200 people are being housed in camps which have a capacity of less than 7000.

Sturgeon highlighted Scotland's history of welcoming refugees, writing writing "we stand ready to play our part...and urge you to take a humane and welcoming approach to the resettlement of these refugees on the Aegean islands."

Most of the people in the camp escaped from countries that are at war and have been exposed to high levels of violence. 

READ MORE: Riccarton Street Park: Govanhill disturbance sees man arrested

The letter follows a campaign by grassroots movement Europe Must Act, calling for the relocation of asylum seekers from the camps. 

Rebecca Morton, a spokesperson for Europe Must Act Scotland, said, "We are delighted that the First Minister has responded to our calls for Scottish leaders to intervene in this matter.

"We believe the UK is duty bound to assist in the evacuation of the camps it helped to construct through its membership of the EU and to reverse the hostile migration policy it continues to support by funding an aggressive, militarised border regime in the Aegean sea.

"We will now be urging MPs to put pressure on the UK government to play its part in putting an end to the humanitarian crisis at Europe’s borders."