Dover District Council,

We have sat, as a town and as a nation, and looked on in horror at the desperate scenes coming from Afghanistan.

Terrified people, many of whom have spent the last 2 decades on the front lines, loyally assisting Britain, risking their lives, now find themselves stranded. Abandoned and betrayed by the west and at the mercy of the Taliban, under the imminent threat of a deadly terror attack.

In just a few short days, Tuesday 31st August, will see the complete withdrawal of UK and US troops from the area, and the end of evacuation flights. The plea for an extension of this deadline has been refused and soon these people will be left to die in this nightmare. People who have been our allies and stood side by side with our own.

If we do not do more now to help these people to escape quickly and safely, we will soon see a dramatic increase in people making perilous journeys by irregular means to reach safety, as asylum seekers in Europe and the UK.

In my professional capacity with a migrant rights charity, and as a dedicated humanitarian activist, I see every day the danger, death and destruction caused by forcing desperate people to make these journeys. We must not let inaction fuel this already desperate situation.

We owe it to these people, as our allies and as our fellow human beings, to do all that we can to offer our support and protection at this critical time.

We must continue as a country, to call on the UK Home Office to act with urgency and do everything within their power, to get these people out quickly and safely.

But as a town and as a district, we must put pressure on our local government, to follow boroughs like Ashford, Canterbury and others, to prioritise setting targets and making a solid commitment to helping the people who are fleeing this conflict.

We ask you, Dover District Council, to urgently set a solid target of the number of people you plan to help, sending a clear message to the Home Office of your commitment to support.

We ask also, that you drop your usual ‘closed shop’ working practices, understand that this is an issue on which we must work together as a community. Communicate with local NGOs, groups and residents on what we can do to support you in supporting them.

We have a wealth of amazing, capable, dedicated, compassionate people in the district and we are at your disposal, ready to help. Let us all cooperate in offering the safe and welcoming environment I know we can.

Awaiting your timely response

Kay Marsh
& the People of the Dover District