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Afghanistan: How many people has the UK resettled? Afghanistan: How many people has the UK resettled?
(about 1 month later)
The government has announced new funding to relocate more than 8,000 Afghans who are currently living in hotels in the UK. Two years after the Taliban took Kabul, a think tank has criticised the UK's treatment of people escaping from Afghanistan.
The government says this will help move refugees into permanent homes, but critics say it risks making some Afghans homeless. More in Common said some had been living in hotels for two years, and now faced eviction.
How many Afghans have arrived in the UK?How many Afghans have arrived in the UK?
The government says that more than 24,000 people have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan as of December 2022, including British nationals. The government says that around 24,600 people had arrived in the UK from Afghanistan as of the end of March 2023, including British nationals.
Of these, more than 21,000 have been resettled under Afghan refugee schemes. Of these, about 21,000 have been resettled under different schemes.
Most came as part of Operation Pitting, the British military operation starting in August 2021 to evacuate British nationals and Afghans from Kabul. Most came as part of Operation Pitting, the British military operation to evacuate British nationals and Afghans from Kabul which began in August 2021.
About 2,000 came before Operation PittingAbout 2,000 came before Operation Pitting
15,000 arrived during Operation Pitting15,000 arrived during Operation Pitting
7,000 have arrived since7,000 have arrived since
In written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee, Raphael Marshall, who previously worked on the Foreign Office's Afghanistan crisis response, estimated that between 75,000 and 150,000 people had applied for evacuation in August 2021. Operation Pitting saw around 15,000 people evacuated from the Afghan capital Kabul
He estimated that 5% of these received assistance. In written evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee in November 2021, Raphael Marshall - who previously worked on the Foreign Office's Afghanistan crisis response - estimated that between 75,000 and 150,000 people had applied for evacuation in August 2021, of whom 5% received assistance.
The Home Office said another 1,400 former staff and their families had already been relocated since 2013 under an earlier scheme.The Home Office said another 1,400 former staff and their families had already been relocated since 2013 under an earlier scheme.
What are the Afghan resettlement schemes? What are the Afghan resettlement schemes and how do they work?
In April 2021 - before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan - the government launched the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme.In April 2021 - before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan - the government launched the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme.
Under the scheme, Afghans who worked for the British military and UK government - for example, as interpreters - could apply to settle permanently in the UK, rather get five years' residency which was previously offered. Under ARAP, Afghans who worked for the British military and UK government - for example, as interpreters - could apply to settle permanently in the UK, rather than get five years' residency, which was previously offered.
The government also opened the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) in January 2022, which it says will allow up to 20,000 refugees to settle in the UK. The government also opened the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) in January 2022, which it said would allow up to 20,000 refugees to settle in the UK.
This scheme focuses on women and children as well as religious and other minorities in danger from the Taliban.This scheme focuses on women and children as well as religious and other minorities in danger from the Taliban.
Immediate family members of those eligible under either the ACRS or ARAP schemes are also eligible for resettlement in the UK. Immediate family members of those eligible under either the ARAP or ACRS schemes are also eligible for resettlement in the UK.
In 2022, 4,629 Afghans were resettled under these schemes but most are people who worked for the UK before Kabul fell in August 2021. Only 22 were brought in because they were vulnerable or at risk refugees. How much money is the government spending on the Afghan resettlement schemes?
How do the resettlement schemes work?
As part of an initiative called "Operation Warm Welcome", local councils have been allocated funding packages of £20,520 per person over three years.As part of an initiative called "Operation Warm Welcome", local councils have been allocated funding packages of £20,520 per person over three years.
The funding will help refugees to enrol in education, find work and integrate in their new communities. The money should help refugees enrol in education, find work and integrate in their new communities.
The government is providing an additional £10m in the first year for housing costs, then £5m and £2m in the two following years. The government promised an additional £10m in the first year for housing costs, then £5m and £2m in the two following years.
What other support is the government providing for Afghan refugees? What accommodation have Afghan refugees been offered?
The government has announced a new £35m fund to help local authorities move around 8,000 Afghans out of hotels and into permanent homes across the UK. It will also add a further £250m to the local authority housing fund. The government announced £35m to help local authorities move around 8,000 Afghans out of hotels and into permanent homes across the UK. It promised a further £250m for the local authority housing fund.
The refugees will be given three months to vacate their hotels for relocation. The Refugee Council has expressed concerned that some Afghans may be left homeless by the new measures. The refugees were given three months to vacate their hotels for relocation.
The Home Office says that more than 9,000 Afghan refugees are still living in hotels while another 9,000 have either been moved to a permanent home or are waiting to move in. At the end of March 2023, the Home Office said that just under 1,000 refugees had been moved into permanent accommodation, and another 468 were waiting to move in.
However, 8,799 Afghan refugees were still living in hotels or serviced accommodation, with one man telling the BBC he had spent almost two years in a hotel.
According to the Home Office, 315 households (around 1,200 people) refused accommodation offers for "varied and often justifiable reasons".
Cabinet Office minister Johnny Mercer - who served in Afghanistan during his time in the military - told the BBC that "things could always have been done differently", and that some Afghan families had been in hotels "for far too long".
In February 2022, the Home Office said that accommodating Afghan refugees in hotels cost £1.2m per day.In February 2022, the Home Office said that accommodating Afghan refugees in hotels cost £1.2m per day.
Afghanistan evacuee 'feels stuck' in hotel roomAfghanistan evacuee 'feels stuck' in hotel room
Afghan refugees in London hotel 'reject accommodation offers'Afghan refugees in London hotel 'reject accommodation offers'
How can other Afghans come to the UK?How can other Afghans come to the UK?
They can come through the UK Resettlement Scheme which prioritises refugees from regions in conflict. In 2022, 36 Afghans came through this route. In theory, they can come through the UK Resettlement Scheme which prioritises refugees from regions in conflict. In 2022, 36 Afghans came through this route.
The other main way to settle is to seek asylum after arriving in the UK. Some Afghans have also made their way to the UK and then sought asylum.
However, proposed changes to the UK immigration system mean that people deemed to have arrived illegally could be sent to Rwanda for processing. The number of Afghans arriving in the UK on small boats, which have crossed the English Channel has increased sharply:
The number of Afghans arriving in the UK on small boats having crossed the English Channel has increased sharply: 2020: 494
In 2020, 494 crossed in small boats 2021: 1,437
In 2021, 1,437 crossed in small boats 2022: 8,633
In 2022, 8,633 crossed in small boats In the first three months of 2023, 1,054 arrived this way.
Home Office statistics also show that nearly 11,000 Afghans and their dependents applied for asylum in 2022. Home Office statistics show that nearly 11,000 Afghans and their dependents applied for asylum in 2022.
However, the Illegal Migration Bill, which became law in July 2023, means anyone arriving illegally may be detained and removed either to Rwanda, or another so-called "safe" third country.
There are continuing legal challenges to the Rwanda policy.
How is the UK stopping Channel crossings?
Why does the UK want to send asylum seekers to Rwanda?
How many people did other countries evacuate?How many people did other countries evacuate?
The US evacuated the largest number of people from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power.The US evacuated the largest number of people from Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power.
Afghans wait to be processed after arriving in the US on an evacuation flight
From 14 August to 28 August 2021, it got 113,500 people out.From 14 August to 28 August 2021, it got 113,500 people out.
Afghans wait to be processed after arriving in the US on an evacuation flight
Other countries evacuated much smaller numbers over that period, according to official statements and press releases:Other countries evacuated much smaller numbers over that period, according to official statements and press releases:
Germany - more than 5,300 Germany: more than 5,300
Italy - more than 5,000 Italy: more than 5,000
Canada - more than 3,700 Canada: more than 3,700
France - around 3,000 France: around 3,000
Since August 2021, some countries have continued to carry out occasional evacuations. On December 3 of that year, France announced that it had evacuated 258 people from Afghanistan. Since August 2021, some countries have continued to carry out occasional evacuations. On December 3 of that year, France said that it had evacuated 258 people from Afghanistan.
There was also an increase in the number of Afghans who applied for asylum in some EU countries such as Greece, France and Germany.There was also an increase in the number of Afghans who applied for asylum in some EU countries such as Greece, France and Germany.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
AfghanistanAfghanistan
Refugees and asylum seekersRefugees and asylum seekers
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Right of asylumRight of asylum