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| Afghanistan: How many asylum seekers has the UK taken in? | Afghanistan: How many asylum seekers has the UK taken in? |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Chaotic scenes at Kabul airport as people try desperately to flee | Chaotic scenes at Kabul airport as people try desperately to flee |
| In the lead-up to the withdrawal of US and UK forces, there were chaotic scenes at Kabul airport as desperate people tried to flee Afghanistan. How many have been evacuated to the UK and what will happen to them? | |
| Resettlement schemes | Resettlement schemes |
| The government has said the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme will allow 5,000 Afghans to settle in the UK, with the long-term goal a total of 20,000. | The government has said the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme will allow 5,000 Afghans to settle in the UK, with the long-term goal a total of 20,000. |
| It will focus on women and children as well as religious and other minorities in greater danger from the Taliban. | It will focus on women and children as well as religious and other minorities in greater danger from the Taliban. |
| Resettling Afghans in UK will take time - Patel | Resettling Afghans in UK will take time - Patel |
| It is modelled on the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, which aimed to take in "those in the greatest need, including people requiring urgent medical treatment, survivors of violence and torture, and women and children". | It is modelled on the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, which aimed to take in "those in the greatest need, including people requiring urgent medical treatment, survivors of violence and torture, and women and children". |
| They were identified by the UN and then vetted by the Home Office before being granted the right to settle in the UK. | They were identified by the UN and then vetted by the Home Office before being granted the right to settle in the UK. |
| The government met its target of bringing over 20,000 people - half of whom were children - over five years between 2015 and 2020, and the Home Office said it was the "largest resettlement scheme in Europe". | The government met its target of bringing over 20,000 people - half of whom were children - over five years between 2015 and 2020, and the Home Office said it was the "largest resettlement scheme in Europe". |
| However, immigration lawyer Sarah Pinder said this figure was a "blip" compared with the total numbers in need, and that much larger numbers were granted asylum in some other European countries. | However, immigration lawyer Sarah Pinder said this figure was a "blip" compared with the total numbers in need, and that much larger numbers were granted asylum in some other European countries. |
| A further 6,000 Syrians were granted asylum in the UK outside the scheme during the same period. | A further 6,000 Syrians were granted asylum in the UK outside the scheme during the same period. |
| Afghan workers and interpreters | Afghan workers and interpreters |
| The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, launched on 1 April, was designed to resettle interpreters and other people who worked for the UK in Afghanistan. | The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, launched on 1 April, was designed to resettle interpreters and other people who worked for the UK in Afghanistan. |
| According to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab the UK had evacuated 17,000 people since the beginning of April. Of those 15,000 were taken out between 15 August and the end of the month. The Home Office said 8,000 of those were ARAP claimants. | According to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab the UK had evacuated 17,000 people since the beginning of April. Of those 15,000 were taken out between 15 August and the end of the month. The Home Office said 8,000 of those were ARAP claimants. |
| Just over 1,000 people have also been resettled in the UK since 2013 under a previous scheme called the Ex-Gratia Policy. | Just over 1,000 people have also been resettled in the UK since 2013 under a previous scheme called the Ex-Gratia Policy. |
| But not all who previously applied to the scheme were accepted, according to the Sulha Alliance, which campaigns for the rights of Afghan interpreters. | But not all who previously applied to the scheme were accepted, according to the Sulha Alliance, which campaigns for the rights of Afghan interpreters. |
| A 2018 Defence Committee report found: "British forces were supported by some 7,000 Afghans, known as locally employed (or engaged) civilians (LECs)." | A 2018 Defence Committee report found: "British forces were supported by some 7,000 Afghans, known as locally employed (or engaged) civilians (LECs)." |
| Ms Pinder said resettlement schemes were often too slow for crises such as the one unfolding in Afghanistan. | Ms Pinder said resettlement schemes were often too slow for crises such as the one unfolding in Afghanistan. |
| "The idea that people can queue up to make an application by staying put... in reality, it's difficult to put into practice," she said. | "The idea that people can queue up to make an application by staying put... in reality, it's difficult to put into practice," she said. |
| And their criteria were often narrow, leaving people "stuck in a loop" between different schemes. | And their criteria were often narrow, leaving people "stuck in a loop" between different schemes. |
| One of Ms Pinder's clients, an Afghan interpreter, had his application refused under an earlier iteration of the schemes because he had already left Afghanistan - but he had fled the country only because working for the UK had left him in danger. | One of Ms Pinder's clients, an Afghan interpreter, had his application refused under an earlier iteration of the schemes because he had already left Afghanistan - but he had fled the country only because working for the UK had left him in danger. |
| Zoe Gardner, policy lead at charity the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), said resettlement schemes could be "life-changing" but must "only be a part of the system". | Zoe Gardner, policy lead at charity the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), said resettlement schemes could be "life-changing" but must "only be a part of the system". |
| She too was critical of the government's focus on resettlement schemes over the usual routes of asylum which often involve people turning up unplanned. | She too was critical of the government's focus on resettlement schemes over the usual routes of asylum which often involve people turning up unplanned. |
| "When people are fleeing persecution, it just happens in a messy way," she said. "People will be coming off their own steam. They won't be waiting in a non-existent queue." | "When people are fleeing persecution, it just happens in a messy way," she said. "People will be coming off their own steam. They won't be waiting in a non-existent queue." |
| Seeking asylum | Seeking asylum |
| Outside a small number of official resettlement schemes, which generally have narrow criteria for eligibility, the main way to settle in the UK is to seek asylum once within the country's borders. | Outside a small number of official resettlement schemes, which generally have narrow criteria for eligibility, the main way to settle in the UK is to seek asylum once within the country's borders. |
| In 2020, 1,336 people from Afghanistan applied for asylum, out of 29,456 total applications from around the world, and 580 were granted it - roughly 45%, although not all of those granted asylum had applied in the same year. | In 2020, 1,336 people from Afghanistan applied for asylum, out of 29,456 total applications from around the world, and 580 were granted it - roughly 45%, although not all of those granted asylum had applied in the same year. |
| As of 31 March 2021, there were 3,117 people from Afghanistan with an asylum application pending an initial decision and 70% of them (2,220) had been waiting for more than six months. | As of 31 March 2021, there were 3,117 people from Afghanistan with an asylum application pending an initial decision and 70% of them (2,220) had been waiting for more than six months. |
| The government is yet to announce a policy for what should happen to these cases, although it has said failed applicants will not be returned. | The government is yet to announce a policy for what should happen to these cases, although it has said failed applicants will not be returned. |
| Ms Pinder said they - and anyone from Afghanistan recently refused asylum - should now have their cases urgently reviewed. | Ms Pinder said they - and anyone from Afghanistan recently refused asylum - should now have their cases urgently reviewed. |
| Under international law, there is nothing to say people must seek asylum in the first safe country or arrive through official channels. | Under international law, there is nothing to say people must seek asylum in the first safe country or arrive through official channels. |
| But the Nationality and Borders Bill currently before parliament would make knowingly arriving in the UK without permission a criminal offence. | But the Nationality and Borders Bill currently before parliament would make knowingly arriving in the UK without permission a criminal offence. |
| A Home Office official said: "The numbers we resettle will be kept under review, particularly as we recover from Covid... focusing on those in need and will be guided by the capacity of local authorities, central government and community sponsor groups to provide places and support refugees to integrate into their communities and thrive." | A Home Office official said: "The numbers we resettle will be kept under review, particularly as we recover from Covid... focusing on those in need and will be guided by the capacity of local authorities, central government and community sponsor groups to provide places and support refugees to integrate into their communities and thrive." |
| Between 2008 and 2019, the UK deported 15,755 people to Afghanistan according to Eurostat, more than any other European country. | Between 2008 and 2019, the UK deported 15,755 people to Afghanistan according to Eurostat, more than any other European country. |
| Funding for councils | Funding for councils |
| As part of what the government calls Operation Warm Welcome £5m has been made available to local authorities to "provide a top up to help meet the costs of renting properties". | |
| It is not clear how many councils have volunteered to accommodate refugees so far. Victoria Atkins, the Minister for Afghan Resettlement, told BBC Breakfast that "at least a third have given firm offers. We are very much in conversations with many, many more." | It is not clear how many councils have volunteered to accommodate refugees so far. Victoria Atkins, the Minister for Afghan Resettlement, told BBC Breakfast that "at least a third have given firm offers. We are very much in conversations with many, many more." |
| Under normal circumstance, a refugee's resettlement costs are paid to local authorities by central government. Local authorities are currently entitled to £20,520 per-refugee, staggered over five years with £8,520 paid up-front for the first year. | Under normal circumstance, a refugee's resettlement costs are paid to local authorities by central government. Local authorities are currently entitled to £20,520 per-refugee, staggered over five years with £8,520 paid up-front for the first year. |
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