MEMBERS of the Penarth Quaker Meeting, who live in Penarth, Dinas Powys and Cardiff, like many other local people, have in the last couple of weeks been supporting local efforts to assist refugees currently living in squalid conditions in Calais, in particular by contributing clothes and equipment.

However, while such efforts are vital, we recognise that they do not address the wider issues - government commitment to admitting and supporting refugees and addressing the underlying causes of the increasing flows is needed.

We recognise that some progress has been made in the last few days, through additional humanitarian funding for refugee camps in the Middle East and a commitment to admit an increased number of refugees.

However, we believe that the UK government's bracketing of migration and refugee issues is encouraging negative attitudes amongst the population at large.

Also we deplore its attempts to avoid taking proportionate responsibility in Europe.

Let us welcome those desperately seeking sanctuary, creating secure paths to safety for refugees and agreeing with other European governments a proportionate response to meeting this need.

Refugees are fleeing from fear. Further violent interventions in countries such as Syria are unlikely to provide a solution. Difficult but compassionate decisions need to be made to secure peace for people in the regions from which refugees are fleeing.

Wales claims to be a nation of sanctuary. Let us make this claim real.

Carole Rakodi

Clerk

Penarth Quaker Meeting