NZ Govt can do more to help people of Aleppo

The New Zealand Government needs to recognise what is happening in Syria right now as a humanitarian crisis and increase its refugee quota to take in more Syrian refugees, the Green Party said today.

"What we are seeing in the media about Aleppo demands a humanitarian response, and New Zealand can do that by increasing the refugee quota to help save people’s lives," Green Party immigration spokesperson Denise Roche said.

"When the New Zealand Government recently increased the refugee quota from 750 to 1000, there was room left to further increase the quota in case of emergency. What is happening in Aleppo is heartbreaking, and we can do more right now to help.

"Our efforts on the UN Security Council are to be applauded, but we need to continue our support of the Syrian people by welcoming refugees.

“New Zealanders are fair minded people, and we have a proud history of doing our fair share. We are not currently doing our fair share for refugees and that needs to be fixed.

"After World War Two New Zealanders opened our hearts and borders to the victims of that war and our country is better for the diversity those communities brought.

“The Green Party has a members’ bill which would see the refugee quota permanently increased to 1500 refugees annually into New Zealand, meanwhile now is the time for us to open our hearts to the people of Aleppo.

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