Afghan family desperate to reach Cork after toddler son becomes gravely ill 

Samira and Hamed Naderi and their son Zahid: The family have been in hiding while their Cork-based friend Joya Kuin tries to secure them a visa waiver and a place on the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, allowing them to come to Ireland.

Efforts to bring an Afghan family to Ireland are being stepped up after their young son’s heart stopped in recent days because of illness.

When Zahid Naderi required hospital treatment, a family member had to take him because his parents Samira and Hamed could not risk being found by the Taliban, who have threatened to kill them.