Expats reject further refugees in Europe

EURO WEEKLY NEWS readers have voted to say that they believe countries nearer to Afghanistan, not those in Europe, should be helping refugees there.

The EWN asked readers whether countries in Europe should be taking in more refugees and 100 per cent said should not.

Instead, readers said that there are other ways to help people in Afghanistan, with many suggesting that neighbouring countries help.

One reader, Tom Hassel, suggested that Saudi Arabia could take in Afghan refugees.

Meanwhile, Linda Exton said: “Plenty of suitable countries bordering their own same culture.”

The United Nations Refugee Agency last week demanded that the EU resettle more than 40,000 Afghan refugees.

Speaking after an EU-hosted online forum, European Commissioner for Migration Ylva Johansson said that the target is “doable” but that it requires EU member states to make pledges.

She said: “Countries will also take into account other ways of protecting people. We had a broader approach to protecting people at this forum.”

She added: “I was overwhelmed by the support of the member states. We are right in the middle of resettlement pledges for next year and the member states are ready to increase them.”

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the EU’s high-level forum on providing protection to Afghans at risk that at least 85,000 people- and possibly more- would need their protection over the next five years and that the EU should take in at least half of that number.

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