Labour Group member motion

The Council notes with deep sadness the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan who have been subject to decades of violence over multiple generations and with our neighbours who are fearing for their loved ones.

The end of the 20-year war on terror has brought into sharp focus the ongoing humanitarian disaster in a country ravaged by decades of conflict. There have been ever-rising rates of poverty and childhood malnourishment, millions internally displaced (in no small part due to the US drones programme) and minorities fleeing persecution from the Taliban. In Oxfordshire this has included spouses of British citizens and family members of UK nationals including those of the persecuted Hazara community.

This has needed an urgent humanitarian response from the UK, in particular as a partner in the occupation. The recent breach of Afghan interpreters’ data many of whom are left behind is indicative of what we know from our local Afghan community – that the government is falling woefully short of its responsibility to provide sanctuary to those in need, not least our British nationals and sub-contracted Afghan partners.

We are proud to be a City of Sanctuary; we have resettled 30 refugee families since 2015 through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Since the Taliban have taken over in Afghanistan, our diverse communities across Oxford/shire have come together to respond with kindness in the knowledge that no one chooses to migrate from a beloved home.

Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Councils work tirelessly with refugee organisations including Asylum Welcome to prepare to support Afghan refugees to build new lives here and to assist those living in temporary accommodation. Cherwell District Council has sourced 10 houses and here in the city we are actively seeking and working with private landlords to allow us to use government funding. This will offer much needed homes so that some families can start rebuilding their lives.

Millions in the global south* are forced to flee due to conflict, persecution, and extreme poverty. The present crisis has further exposed the lack of safe routes to sanctuary and the cruel nature of this government’s Nationality and Borders Bill. Compassionate leadership is needed now more than ever to ensure that all people seeking safety have access to a dignified life. 

We therefore call on our Council leader to:

1.    Ask the Home Secretary to withdraw the Borders Bill, grant permanent Refugee Status to all Afghan nationals who are in the UK and release those detained, create safe pathways for undocumented Afghans to obtain refugee status and facilitate family reunions including from third countries.

2.    Ask the Local Government Association to establish a Sanctuary Taskforce. A fully resourced, just, and locally led emergency and long-term resettlement programme based on the principles of welcome, dignity and justice is the only solution to the ongoing crisis.

3.    Re-establish the Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Vulnerable Migrant Coordination Group in joint leadership with the County and District Councils along the previously agreed principles of sanctuary.

*often inexactly referred to as ‘the developing world’

Cllr Djafari-Marbini, seconded by Cllr Arshad, proposed the submitted motion as set out in the agenda and briefing note.

After debate and on being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Council resolved to adopt the following motion:

The Council notes with deep sadness the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan who have been subject to decades of violence over multiple generations and with our neighbours who are fearing for their loved ones.

The end of the 20-year war on terror has brought into sharp focus the ongoing humanitarian disaster in a country ravaged by decades of conflict. There have been ever-rising rates of poverty and childhood malnourishment, millions internally displaced (in no small part due to the US drones programme) and minorities fleeing persecution from the Taliban. In Oxfordshire this has included spouses of British citizens and family members of UK nationals including those of the persecuted Hazara community.

This has needed an urgent humanitarian response from the UK, in particular as a partner in the occupation. The recent breach of Afghan interpreters’ data many of whom are left behind is indicative of what we know from our local Afghan community – that the government is falling woefully short of its responsibility to provide sanctuary to those in need, not least our British nationals and sub-contracted Afghan partners.

We are proud to be a City of Sanctuary; we have resettled 30 refugee families since 2015 through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. Since the Taliban have taken over in Afghanistan, our diverse communities across Oxford/shire have come together to respond with kindness in the knowledge that no one chooses to migrate from a beloved home.

Oxford City and Oxfordshire County Councils work tirelessly with refugee organisations including Asylum Welcome to prepare to support Afghan refugees to build new lives here and to assist those living in temporary accommodation. Cherwell District Council has sourced 10 houses and here in the city we are actively seeking and working with private landlords to allow us to use government funding. This will offer much needed homes so that some families can start rebuilding their lives.

Millions in the global south are forced to flee due to conflict, persecution, and extreme poverty. The present crisis has further exposed the lack of safe routes to sanctuary and the cruel nature of this government’s Nationality and Borders Bill. Compassionate leadership is needed now more than ever to ensure that all people seeking safety have access to a dignified life. 

We therefore call on our Council leader to:

1. Ask the Home Secretary to withdraw the Borders Bill, grant permanent Refugee Status to all Afghan nationals who are in the UK and release those detained, create safe pathways for undocumented Afghans to obtain refugee status and facilitate family reunions including from third countries.
2. Ask the Local Government Association to establish a Sanctuary Taskforce. A fully resourced, just, and locally led emergency and long-term resettlement programme based on the principles of welcome, dignity and justice is the only solution to the ongoing crisis.
3. Re-establish the Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Vulnerable Migrant Coordination Group in joint leadership with the County and District Councils along the previously agreed principles of sanctuary.