Statement on Afghanistan
We have been contacted by many of you over the past week regarding what is unfolding in Afghanistan.
You have been asking what needs to be done by the Government, and what we can do here in East Sussex.
What we are calling for
Whilst it is good to hear the government talking about a new Resettlement Programme for the people of Afghanistan, we have significant concerns over the size and resourcing of this.
We are joining our partners Migrants Organise in calling on the Home Office to:
Implement a large scale and fully resourced emergency and long-term refugee resettlement programme based on the principles of welcome, dignity and justice.
Grant Refugee Status to all Afghan nationals who are in the UK claiming asylum or studying and create safe pathways for undocmented Afghan people in the UK to obtain their refugee status.
Fully implement commitments under Human Rights and Humanitarian Law – protected by the 1951 Geneva Convention, and other international agreements and UN bodies – that guarantee the right to live in dignity and safety and the right to seek asylum.
Scrap the Nationality and Borders Bill and its plan to punish refugees who arrive in the UK spontaneously.
No discrimination based on route of entry
There have been hints from the Home Office that there would be no exception made for those fleeing the Taliban who used “irregular” routes to come to the UK.
It is crucial that we do not buy into this differentiation between refugees into groups of "genuine refugees" and "illegal migrants" based on their entry route.
All Afghans are fleeing the same horrific situation whether they are coming here via a boat across the Channel or a plane directly from Kabul and they all deserve respect, dignity and welcome.
How our local Councils can help
The Government has confirmed that numbers for the Resettlement Programme will be based on the numbers that local authorities are willing to accept.
We are working closely with Hastings Borough Council to ensure that they know our community is ready and willing to assist as many refugees as possible to resettle in our town.
How you can help
If you are not yet signed up to be a volunteer and would like to be involved, please sign up by going to the page “Get Involved”. We will be holding voluteer inductions in September.
We will also be holding an Open Day on Saturday 18th September for people to come and regiatser and find out more about how they can help. Keep an eye on our website and social media for more information coming soon.
Raising the voices of those with lived experience
More than ever it is crucial that we listen to and raise the voices of Afghans rather than regurgitating rhetoric informed by colonialism and imperialism. The UK Government should do the same rather than turning to the same voices in their own ranks.
For this reason we’re providng you links of websites and social media handles that is by no means exhaustive but are a good place to start reading and to follow and promote:
Aisha Ahmad, female journlist based in Kabul
Twitter: @AishaTaIksTOLO news, Afghanistan's first 24-hours news and current affairs television network.
Website: https://tolonews.com/ | Twitter: @TOLOnewsDr Waheed Arian, former Afghan refugee who came to the UK as a child @DrWaheedArian
Fazila Baloch, Human Rights Activist Twitter: @IFazilaBaloch
Afghanistan Times - English-language daily newspaper
Website: http://www.afghanistantimes.af/ | Twitter: @AfghanistanTime
Satbir Zazai, Chair of the Scottish Refugee Council
Twitter: @SatbirLSinghPeymana Assad, first UK elected official of Afghan origin
Twitter: @Peymasa