The Barnet Council says it is considering what more it can do to help refugees as thousands flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
The council pledged to continue working with local organizations to help refugees under resettlement programs put in place by the UK government, but did not say how many Afghan households it could accept as part of the this one.
Thousands of Afghans scramble to flee the Taliban as US troops and their allies withdraw from the country after 20 years of occupation. The deadline for the withdrawal of troops is August 31.
Two programs have been put in place by the government to help refugees in the country. The Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) was launched last year to relocate interpreters and others who have worked for the UK in Afghanistan.
The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), announced on August 18, aims to accommodate up to 5,000 vulnerable Afghans in the first year and up to 20,000 in the long term.
A spokesperson for the Barnet Council said the authority had previously supported the resettlement of two Afghan families under PFRA, as well as the resettlement of 50 Syrian refugees over the past five years through a separate program.
The spokesperson added: “In light of the very recently announced PFRA expansion and the new Afghan Citizen Resettlement Program, we are considering what more we could do.
“Barnet is fortunate to have a strong voluntary community and religious sector that have consistently mobilized to support the displaced people arriving in our borough. We continue to work with local organizations to ensure this vulnerable group gets the help they need. ”
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Source: www.times-series.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-08-28 11:24:41
