THE Deputy First Minister has appealed to British Prime Minister David Cameron to accept more refugees from Syria and the Middle East after shocking pictures of a drowned Syrian boy triggered a backlash across Europe.
Images of toddler Aylan Kurdi’s body washed up on a Turkish beach have put European governments under severe pressure to accept people fleeing war-torn regions.
The three-year-old drowned alongside his mother Rehan (35) and five-year-old brother Galip after their boat capsized while trying to reach the Greek island of Kos.
Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness asked Mr Cameron to let more refugees into the country, including allowing some to settle in the north.
He said the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister is already exploring how refugees could be accommodated.
Mr McGuinness said he had "no doubt" that people in the north would welcome those in need.
"David Cameron told me he is open to such a discussion with the Executive and I intend to follow that up with the First Minister and the administrations in Scotland and Wales," he said.
The assembly is to debate the humanitarian crisis on Monday after Alliance assembly member Stewart Dickson called for Britain and the north to accept a "sizeable" number of refugees.
Mr Dickson said it was essential the British government offered resettlement places to help alleviate the crisis.
“The British Government should be taking a leadership role in this crisis by devoting an appropriate amount of resources to help and taking a sizable number of refugees in, in line with other EU nations," he said.
His comments were echoed by SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell, who called on the British government to act quickly.
"This is not a sudden development. The flow of people from the Mediterranean fleeing the worst conditions imaginable in Syria and surrounding countries has been building for months," he said.
Dr McDonnell said Mr Cameron "must also commit to offering sanctuary to those so desperately in need of our help".
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said the British government must respond to the crisis.
"The Government must do more to assist refugees, and whilst the outpouring of feeling on social media has helped highlight the issue, as individuals we are not powerless to help through donations to the many agencies helping refugees directly and providing vital humanitarian aid," he said.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny said last night that the Republic would consider taking in more refugees from Italy and Greece if asked at a key meeting of EU justice ministers on Monday.
Mr Kenny suggested that under the new scheme the EU would take in "over 100,000" refugees.
He said it was "not realistic" at this stage to say how many the Republic would accept.
But Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said he thought the state will accept "thousands" of refugees in the coming years.
"Irish people want us as a country to step up to the mark and we will... This government is going to show leadership in order to do that," he said.
Dublin priest Fr Alan Hilliard, the former Director of the Irish Bishops’ Commission For Emigrants, has called on every parish in Ireland to welcome a refugee family.
Writing in The Irish Catholic, Fr Alan Hilliard, said the church should “become the main agent for the resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers”.
He asked: “Why can’t every parish in Ireland volunteer to take a family from Syria, Afghanistan or Eritrea?”
Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin joined other Catholic bishops in calling on the Republic to play a greater role in coming to the aid of families fleeing war-torn regions.
Speaking to RTÉ radio, Dr Martin said most people had been left "absolutely shocked" by the picture of Aylan’s body, adding: "If we start from that then we have to find the ability [to act]. This is the largest refugee crisis since WWII. It’s not going to go away."
Kevin Donnelly, Trócaire’s regional manager in Northern Ireland, drew parallels between the refugee crisis and Ireland's history of forced migration.
"Our own people have a long history of being welcomed into other countries during our toughest times and there are currently millions of people living overseas who are Irish by birth or descent. Given our own heritage, we have a responsibility to show solidarity," he said.
Oxfam Ireland also called on the British and Irish governments to "save thousands of lives" by helping to resettle refugees.
Chief Executive Jim Clarken said: "We cannot pretend this is not our responsibility – this challenge has to be taken on by everybody, and we can’t wait for Europe – which has abjectly failed to decide on an appropriate, human rights-based response".
A vigil was held in Derry last night to call on the European Union to open its borders to more refugees.
The protest in Guildhall Square at 5pm was organised by People Before Profit.
A vigil organised by Belfast Lord Mayor Arder Carson will take place in front of City Hall at 5pm on Monday.
