Marseille, Grenoble, Laval … Several socialist or environmental mayors have announced in the last hours that they are ready to receive refugees from Afghanistan.
With the coming to power of the Taliban, the fate of the thousands of Afghans fleeing their country is, in fact, at the center of everyone’s concerns. Contrary to the speech of President Emmanuel Macron, who was controversial Monday night believing that France should “protect itself from significant irregular migratory flows,” several local elected representatives want to show their solidarity.
The history of Marseille merges with that of the persecuted, the persecuted, the hungry, who came here to survive and then live. Today they come from Kabul where they will always have a place in our city.
– Benoît Payan (@BenoitPayan) August 17, 2021
The mayor of Marseille was one of the first to speak. “The history of Marseille merges with that of the persecuted, the persecuted, the hungry, who came here to survive and then live. Today they come from Kabul where, in addition, they will always have a place in our city, ”said the socialist Benoît Payan this Tuesday morning.
Very soon the councilor was followed by several of his counterparts on the left, such as the mayor and mayor of Clermont-Ferrand Olivier Blanchi, who believes that “we must live up to our values”, that of Laval Florian Bercault, who assures that his city “will participate fully in welcoming Afghans”, or that of Nancy Mathieu Klein, for whom action is “urgent”.
Many environmentalists have also shown their willingness to embrace. In the wake of Grenoble Mayor Eric Piolle, who judged that Emmanuel Macron was “embarrassing France”, Grégory Doucet said that “Lyon will respond to France’s duty of humanity” and Jeanne Berseghian recalled the “long tradition of a hospitable city”. From Strasbourg.
Since the beginning of the year, Ofpra (the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons) has processed 8,200 asylum applications from Afghans, according to figures given by the French presidency. And the agency would grant the request for protection in 89.9% after examining the resources.
This Tuesday night, the British government announced the launch of a device designed to “long-term” shelter 20,000 Afghan refugees.