Scottish Government ready to 'play full part' to help Afghan refugees
Nicola Sturgeon is urging the UK Government to offer as much support to those fleeing the Taliban as possible
The First Minister has said the Scottish Government is willing to “play our full part” to help refugees escaping from the “horrifying situation” in Afghanistan.
Nicola Sturgeon highlighted work by Canadian authorities who said they had welcomed a flight full of refugees from the country, 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.
Ms 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.”
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 has welcomed the recall of Parliament. He told Tay FM News: “There are serious questions to be asked over the manner of the departure from the country, the lack of support for the Afghan government, and of course the reckless cut to aid support.
“We need to have a generosity of spirit and invite as many refugees as we need to. Working together with our partners in other countries.”