SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has criticised a decision by the Department for Communities not to support calls from the British Government to assist Afghan refugees to resettle in Northern Ireland.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The scenes currently unfolding in Afghanistan are heart-wrenching.
“As we watch from afar to people cling to aircrafts, witness the desperation in the faces of Afghans and listen to the stories particularly of women whose lives will never be the same under Taliban rule, it is galling that our Department of Communities has ignored pleas for help.
“A government which closes its borders and its hearts to people fleeing for their lives, is a government which treats the most vulnerable with contempt.
“The action, or inaction, of the Department to assist Afghan refugees in their time of need should serve as a red flag for all denizens in the North.
“There is a moral duty for our Executive to play their part. To quote the late, great John Hume, ‘The basis of peace and stability, in any society, has to be the fullest respect for the human rights of all people.’
“In that vein, it is important the North opens its doors and take these people in.
“This goes beyond politics, far beyond arguments around housing or health systems – this is about saving lives and securing futures.
“Apathy is an incredibly dangerous thing; we cannot abandon frenzied pleas for help.
“I have written to the Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey urging her to clarify her department’s decision and imploring her to step up to assist Afghan refugees.”
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