As a Member of the European Parliament for Ireland South, I am supporting and coordinating this fundraiser to assist a family in Kabul, who are hoping to come to Ireland to start a new life here. I have remained in contact with the family over the course of several months, and am deeply concerned about their worsening situation. For security reasons, their names remain confidential, and I have covered their faces in the photograph used for this campaign. My team in Ireland and Brussels will use the funds collected as part of this campaign to pay for the family's travel and visa costs for the journey from Kabul to Dublin.

 

Millions of people remain in Kabul since the Taliban takeover in August last year, many of whom live in fear for their safety every single day. This GoFundMe is to help a female former Political Science Lecturer and women’s rights activist and her family. She is at serious risk of being imprisoned, tortured, or even killed by the Taliban because of her previous activities. She has seen many of her former colleagues captured by the Taliban and lives in fear of suffering a similar fate. She cannot work and spends most of her time at home, only leaving the house for essential supplies during daylight hours.

 

The children in the family have not been able to attend school since last August because of the Taliban’s refusal to allow girls to receive an education. The family hopes to come to Ireland, where they can start a new life. However, the journey to Ireland is a long and difficult one, and the costs associated with bringing the family of eight from Kabul to Dublin are considerable.

Any help in fundraising would be greatly appreciated and sincerely welcomed. Thank you for your generosity.

Is mise le meas, 

Seán Kelly

Member of the European Parliament for Ireland South

Update: Due to reasons beyond our control, and despite our best efforts to safely facilitate relocation of this family from Afghanistan, we were unable. Transferring money directly to them while still being in Afghanistan poses a safety risk for their lives.

As a result, the money will now be donated to Nasc, a charity working with migrants and refugees based in Cork, Ireland.