Cork Shopkeeper Loses Family Members in Afghanistan Crisis

An Afghan man who runs a shop in Cork city has spoken of losing family and friends in the ongoing takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Bilal Jalil, who owns the St Patrick's Street store Cool Ireland and is known locally as "Billy", lost several family members and friends in a bomb attack on his home village. He's now hoping the surviving members of his family will be allowed to find safety in Ireland.

"My country is at war, it is burning," said Jalil, who added that he personally knew 18 people killed in the attack on his home town.

Jalil lost an aunt and several cousins. His brother is in hospital while one cousin lost a leg.

"My family right now is struggling," he said.

The 27-year-old shopkeeper said he spoke to his father, who survived the attack, on Monday. He was unable to speak to his brother as he is suffering from shock.

Jalil has been speaking with solicitors and local TDS in the hopes of bringing his family to Ireland.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said that Ireland will take in 100-150 refugees from Afghanistan. He conceded that "those numbers are very small," and more may have to be done.

"We will be prioritising human rights workers, media workers and women and girls, the vulnerable," Coveney outlined.