1000’s of Afghan refugees delivered to the UK throughout the Kabul evacuation will probably be evicted from their Residence Workplace resorts with no provide of housing, the federal government has revealed.
A Residence Workplace letter, seen by The Impartial, has been despatched to Afghans dwelling in authorities resorts telling them that they should begin looking for personal rented lodging as present assist will finish from 2 Might.
Round 8,000 Afghans live in resorts within the UK after fleeing the Taliban in August 2021. The federal government introduced plans to evict them in March, saying the refugees could be given just a few months’ discover. However preliminary stories stated all refugees could be provided a property to stay in.
Now, the Residence Workplace has stated that solely “some Afghan households will obtain one possibility of housing from the federal government”. A authorities factsheet on the modifications says: “Most households is not going to obtain a suggestion of lodging from the Residence Workplace”.
The letter, despatched to Afghans in resorts, continues: “From 2 Might 2023, the prevailing matching course of will stop to exist … It’s probably that most individuals is not going to obtain an allocation by the brand new course of, and we encourage you to seek out your individual lodging wherever doable”.
The brand new plan applies to Afghans who’ve arrived within the UK beneath two resettlement schemes: the Afghan Residents Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), and the Afghan Relocations and Help Coverage (Arap).
Within the letter, the Residence Workplace stated it could provide assist for refugees to seek out their very own personal leases.
It reads: “We are going to present as a lot assist as we will that can assist you make your individual lodging preparations. This consists of assist by the prevailing Discover Your Personal Lodging (FYOA) scheme within the personal rental sector.”
Not like different asylum seekers, Afghans on these two resettlement schemes have the suitable to work.
Nevertheless, Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, stated it was “completely unreasonable to count on Afghan refugees to out of the blue transfer out of resorts with out providing appropriate alternate options when the truth is that discovering reasonably priced housing in the marketplace is an actual problem”.
He continued: “We’re deeply involved concerning the strategy taken by the Residence Workplace, which is more likely to result in Afghans being left homeless and destitute on our streets.
“This isn’t how those that fled the Taliban and have been promised a heat welcome within the UK must be handled.”
Liberal Democrat dwelling affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael stated: “Though it’s proper that Afghan households have entry to everlasting properties, the federal government should assure right this moment that these refugees who’ve fled hazard is not going to be made homeless.”
It comes after The Impartial revealed the plight of an Afghan fighter pilot who arrived within the UK on small boat and has now been threatened with elimination to Rwanda.
The pilot’s case has been supported by a coalition of senior army chiefs, politicians and charities, who’ve referred to as on the federal government to grant the veteran asylum and reunite him along with his household.
The Residence Workplace has been contacted for remark.
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