The Australian Government has announced that it will accept 16,500 refugees from Afghanistan over the next four years. Following the withdrawal of western forces from Afghanistan last year members of the Afghan diaspora, aid organisations, churches and other community organisations have been advocating for the Australian Government to make space for 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan on top of the 13,750 refugees Australia currently accepts each year. The announcement of 16,500 places for Afghani refugees, additional to the existing humanitarian quota, has been widely welcomed by these groups.
For more see the Refugee Council’s statement.