As evacuations continue in Kabul, several mayors in the region are speaking out in favor of welcoming Afghan refugees after the Taliban return to power.
This Wednesday, a second Air Force plane landed in Paris with more than 200 passengers on board, among which 25 French and a large majority of Afghans. In the evening, a third rotation made it possible to evacuate 13 French and 124 Afghans, according to the Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly.
“It is our human duty”
The situation does, in any case, react a lot. Especially after the controversial remarks of Emmanuel Macron on “irregular migratory flows”.
Several elected officials from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes say they are ready to welcome Afghan refugees in their town. This is the case of the mayor LR of Saint Etienne, Gaël Perdriau. “It is our human duty, it is my responsibility as a politician”, said the elected Stéphanois.
Same story for its counterpart of Bourg-en-Bresse, the socialist Jean-Francois Debat. “For years, Bourg-en-Bresse has played an important role in welcoming political, humanitarian and future climate refugees to France. It will welcome Afghans, women, men and children, who are fleeing the Taliban regime. question of values and humanism “, he assures.
In the Rhône also, several voices are raised on the left in favor of this solidarity. “Land of welcome, Villeurbanne will always be by the side of those who seek refuge and will be able to welcome with dignity the exiles who are forced to flee. “, assures the mayor of the city, Cédric Van Styvendael.
TO Lyon, “we have the capacity to welcome with dignity”, according to the environmentalist mayor Gregory Doucet. “Lyon will respond to France’s duty of humanity and is ready to welcome the Afghans who seek refuge in France and will arrive on our soil in the coming days”, he specifies.
For the president of the Metropolis, Bruno Bernard, “France must fully play its role as a land of asylum for the Afghan men and women threatened by the Taliban. The Metropolis will be at the side of the State to help with the emergency accommodation of these exiles”.
Among the first to react the day after Emmanuel Macron’s speech, the socialist mayor of Clermont-Ferrand, Olivier Bianchi, also opened the door to the reception of refugees in its territory.
