Oldham Interfaith Forum calls for an 'appropriate' response to any Afghan refugees coming into the UK.

Oldham Mosques Council delivered food to Royal Oldham Hospital Staff, as part of Interfaith Forum work.

The Oldham Interfaith Forum is encouraging the Local Authority and the Voluntary Sector, to continue to work with the faith communities, to provide an appropriate and co-ordinated response to the arrival of refugees from Afghanistan in the Borough.

Father Phil Sumner, trustee of the Oldham Interfaith Forum told us: "The good treatment of strangers, the hungry and the homeless is a requirement to be found in the scriptures of different faith communities.

"We pray that we will be able to live up to those requirements and provide a welcome that can give genuine hope for the future.

"Our organisation is committed to working to build respect and good relations between the different faith communities and we commend this approach to others."

He outlined some of the challenges faced, when different vulnerable minorities arrive in a country, with a different culture and says that a 'one size fits all' approach in catering for refugees might not work. 

For example, a foodbank might offer pork in food parcels, which practicing Muslims don't eat.  

Father Sumner has commended the work of those who volunteer to help refugees and the vulnerable, in general. 

He said: "In recent times, we have achieved so much by working together to address the problems we have faced during the pandemic.

"What we need is to carefully consider how we can help, in what appropriate way, moving forward."

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