Australia has said it would accept 3,000, possibly 5,000 Afghan refugees into the country, after the recent takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.
There are many voices and petitions at present that the number should be 20,000.
The twenty years of war by coalition forces in Afghanistan, initially to flush out the 9/11 terrorists, has proven a dismal failure, as we now know!
Hope was raised for the civilian population for greater freedom during the presence of the coalition forces, which has now been cruelly dashed by the return of the Taliban.
Because of our military involvement in this long war, we are said to have an extra obligation to assist more fleeing Afghanis to resettle in Australia. We caused damage to the civilian population through bombings and accidental killings, that we owe them some kind of compensation.
On the other hand, there were 41 Australian soldiers killed in the Afghanistan conflict and more than 260 were injured. The total cost was more than $7.5 billion over more than a decade. (sbs.com.au)
Peter Jennings, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told SBS (SBS News) that there are veteran support groups like the Defence Force Welfare Association, who believe mental health is the biggest problem for serving men and women when they come home. The Association’s National President David Jamison told SBS: “We have lost more people through suicide than we lost in the Afghanistan war.”
This aspect of Australia’s cost of this war is rarely considered by those who raise their reasons for the 20,000 Afghan refugee intake, instead of the present 3,000, possibly 5,000 promised by our government.
My own (humble) thoughts on this issue are as follows, as I hate to jump on any bandwagon, simply because the majority of refugee advocacy groups propose it:
1) To process 20,000 refugees responsibly is a huge task. We should not shirk this responsibility for the sake of compassion, as the possibility of unwanted infiltrators with sinister intent is a very real one. This has happened in the past in generous countries such as Germany, Denmark, France, England etc. Even the Brookings Institute, a centre-left think tank in Washington D.C. says that “concerns about terrorism and refugees are legitimate.” (https://preemptivelove.org/)
2) As Christians, we should advocate not only for refugees in general but especially for our brothers and sisters in the faith. It is a well-known fact that they are often discriminated against by their Muslim fellow refugees. In Afghanistan, they are at greater risk of being killed and tortured. We should not be shy in stating such a preference, for the sake of political correctness. (Galatians 6:10 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.)
3) We should ensure that by coming to our nation (however many will be allowed in) they are not put in harm’s way by contracting Covid. They need to be medically assessed, housed in safe accommodation and educated as to proper safety practices. Not an easy task for the petitioned 20,000 individuals! The government will look firstly at the additional costs involved.
4) Resettling them successfully is a community effort. At present, the social climate in Australia is one of avoidance and self-protection, due to the threat of Covid. Integrating them is much harder at present. It is easier to look after a smaller group than a large one in our present climate. Quality over quantity, I say.
5) Those who have already spent considerable time in Australian detention centres should finally be released into the community and given the opportunity to find work and assisted living accommodation. As well as subsidised access to medical care. As I have advocated before, the ones who are already here are our first priority and showing them real welcoming and support is the decent thing to do.
6) Those families back in Afghanistan who want to join them should be given priority. The emotional support of their Afghan family here in Australia will ensure a much smoother settlement process.
In our discussions and deliberations let’s listen to all with respect and care and avoid the now so common abuse and character assassination of those who oppose our point of view!