Our duty to aid Afghans fleeing hate

THE situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating by the second.

No one really believes the Taliban have suddenly become a peaceful, stable, government.

This is an incoming hardline regime. And we have until the end of the month to get everyone out.

Women’s rights will disappear. Those dubbed sympathisers with the West will be hunted down.

A country that, for 20 years, has been heading towards the light will be plunged into darkness.

The sensible thing to do is flee. That’s why the UK has to step up.

For decades we have battled to keep the peace there. British lives have been lost in the process. We can’t let that be in vain.

The Government says we didn’t know this was coming. That’s nonsense. They tell us this country has room for only 5,000 refugees. Also nonsense.

Friendship

We need to provide shelter for everyone. The interpreters, the guides, the journalists, the persecuted – all should be welcome.

Already, the people of the UK are opening the hand of friendship. Councils are being flooded with offers of spare rooms, charities given cash and offers of help.

Once again, ordinary people are stepping in and showing the Government how it’s done.

When the Foreign Secretary finally deigned to leave his sun lounger, and the Prime Minister finally worked out what was going on, they found the country had already sprung into action.

And that the British people, as they always do, had stepped up and shown the compassion our politicians so sadly lack.

To those trying to leave Kabul and the horrors to come in that country, the message is coming through loud and clear. Our Government might have failed you. Our people won’t.