12,000 Afghan refugees stuck in UK hotels – reports — Analysis

The UK will host 12,000 Afghan refugees in 2022, even though they arrived in Afghanistan months before the Taliban-ruled country was evacuated.

The Guardian reported on Tuesday that the government was struggling to persuade local councils to find permanent homes for the thousands of Afghan refugees who relocated to Britain following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. They launched a military operation in the summer, and captured Kabul on august 15. 

Sources within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Home Office told the paper that more than 12,000 Afghan evacuees remained in the so-called ‘bridging accommodation’ as of December 22.

According to the DWP 16,500 individuals were flown from Afghanistan to Britain by airlift since August. “over 4,000 individuals have either moved into a settled home or are in the process of being moved or matched to a suitable home.”

The government has struggled to find permanent or suitable homes for refugees, meaning they remain in hotel accommodation at the taxpayer’s expense.

A spokesperson from the Home Office said that over 300 local authorities offered homes for permanent residents, although the number of applicants has not been sufficient. 

London’s council officials told The Guardian that the Guardian had been informed by them that the majority of hotels they were using weren’t suitable for long-term stay, particularly for children.

According to December 7, some 7500 Afghan refugees had already been moved to the UK by the Afghan relocations policy and assistance (ARAP) Assistance and refuge were provided to Afghans in danger by the plan.

Operation Pitting, August saw around 15,000 persons brought to the UK. In the months that followed, another 1,500 people were airlifted into Britain.
Many Afghans are now seeking asylum after they have reached British shores on their own.

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