Omagh ethnic support group calls for embrace of Afghans

AS the world retreats to a safe distance to watch the Taliban’s sweeping takeover of Afghanistan on TV screens, Nick Cassidy, of Omagh’s Ethnic Communities Support Group, says Tyrone and Fermanagh will have to play their own part in homing some of the 20,000 at-risk Afghans the UK has promised to take in.

“Our first reaction was shock and dismay – we never thought this would happen so quickly,” said Nick.

Less than a week after US troops left Afghanistan, the Taliban have seized control, undoing 20 years of foreign intervention.

“We are concerned for people trapped in Afghanistan,” said Nick, “but also their families here who fear for what will become of their loved ones at home.”

But Nick is more optimistic than many, taking solace in the relative bloodlessness of the overthrow.

“Thankfully, there haven’t been any reports of major reprisals, and we hope that this will continue.”

“The new government have also pledged that, unlike in the past, women’s rights will be respected – we hope they keep their word, particularly regarding women and girls’ education.”

Nick then turned to the wave of immigration we should expect.

“Like the Syrian immigration crisis of 2015-2016, an Afghan crisis is imminent.”

The UK government have promised they will accept up to 20,000 Afghans in a five-year resettlement plan. Nick recalled that, “Fermanagh and Omagh District took in 60 Syrian families in 2015 – that’s 200 people.”

His organisation are still working with those families, and he hopes to do the same with newly-arriving Afghans.

“My great hope,” said Nick, “is that Afghanistan avoids an outright, drawn-out, bloody civil war.”

Nick said, “It is up to neighbouring countries, like Pakistan and China, to assist the prevention of this eventuality.”

But the buck doesn’t stop with neighbouring nations – the solution is micro as well as macro, Nick believes.

“Finding new homes for Afghan refugees is going to be paramount to any solution, and it is our job to provide empathy and practical support where we can,” he added.

Article by Emmet McElhatton

e.mcelhatton@ulsterherald.com