Unity in call to aid Afghans

IN a show of unity, major church denominations and Christian organisations have called for Australia to take in more Afghan refugees.

The UNHCR estimates more than 550,000 Afghans have fled their homes since the start of the year – 80 per cent of them women and children.

The federal government has announced an initial commitment of providing 3000 refugee spaces from within Australia’s existing humanitarian program.

Believing that number was well below what was needed, the Christians United for Afghanistan campaign calls for the federal government to provide a special intake of an additional 20,000 Afghans.

The Uniting Church in Australia, Sydney Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics, and Pentecostals, as well as the Australian Christian Lobby, Micah Australia and Common Grace have supported the call.

Micah Australia executive director Tim Costello said this crisis had united people across theological, political, and denominational lines.

“We want to ensure our nation responds in a way that we can look back on proudly in generations to come,” he said.