FM: Scottish Government will 'play part' to help Afghan refugees

The Scottish Government is willing to “play our full part” to help Afghan refugees fleeing the “horrifying situation” in their country, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Sturgeon highlighted work by Canadian authorities who said they had welcomed a flight full of refugees from Afghanistan, which is on the brink of complete collapse as Taliban fighters encroach on the capital Kabul.

Canada’s immigration body said it will assist in resettling 20,000 Afghans threatened by the Islamist group.

Sturgeon tweeted that she hopes the UK Government “does similar and offers as much refuge for vulnerable Afghans as possible”.

She added: “As we did with Syrian refugees, @scotgov is willing to play our full part and do all we can to help those in peril as a result of the horrifying situation currently unfolding.”

I hope UK government does similar and offers as much refuge for vulnerable Afghans as possible. As we did with Syrian refugees, @scotgov is willing to play our full part and do all we can to help those in peril as a result of the horrifying situation currently unfolding. https://t.co/BrIZFcqLUA
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) August 15, 2021

A Downing Street source has said Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to seek a recall of MPs this week to discuss the worsening situation in Afghanistan.

With the country on the brink of complete breakdown, the lead elements of the British force sent to evacuate the remaining UK nationals were understood to be in the Kabul on Sunday amid fears it could fall within days or even hours.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “The UK – along with our international partners – have a moral duty to the people and government of Afghanistan.

“There are serious questions over the manner of departure from the country, lack of support for the Afghan government, and the reckless cut to aid support.

“Make no mistake about this – the absence of a proper strategy and meaningful planning makes this a serious failure of leadership and one of the biggest foreign policy disasters of modern times.

“I welcome the recall of Parliament to hold the UK Government to account, to discuss next steps to prevent an all-out humanitarian crisis, and to ensure the UK discharges its obligations for all those Afghan citizens who have worked with UK forces.”