Sydney Multicultural Community Services is calling for urgent response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan
Sydney Multicultural Community Services (SMCS) is pleading with the Australian Government to provide an urgent humanitarian response to the crisis unfolding in Afghanistan. We are deeply concerned about the plight of the Afghan people especially the women and the children, and minority groups including Hazaras and Shi’a Muslims. Taliban Militants are known for their brutality, violence, oppression and cruel execution of the Sharia Law. Currently, thousands of people in Afghanistan are living in insurmountable fear and are desperate to escape after the hardline Islamist group dramatically took over Kabul. The fear is clearly reflected in shocking scenes at Kabul’s main airport where thousands of Afghans congregated to flee the country after the chaotic military pullout of US and its allies.
“The impact of this group’s swift return to power means many people will potentially be subjected to torture, rape, hunger, forced marriages for young girls and restrictions on education and employment. That’s why the Australian Government should act fast to help the Afghan people before it is too late. Australia has a responsibility to the people of Afghanistan and it is absolutely critical to evacuate the most vulnerable segments of the population now,” said Mrs Rosa Loria, CEO Sydney Multicultural Community Services.
We urge the Australian government to grant refugee and humanitarian visas to people from Afghanistan and also to those who are already in Australia on temporary visas and/or in immigration and community detention centres. We also urge the Australian government to use all options to facilitate the safe evacuation of people in Afghanistan who worked with the Australian Defence force during the 20 year US-led mission.
