LONDON: Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday said England owed the “big debt” to Afghanistan who worked with NATO forces when he announced “vital support” for those who lived back in England.
But his government came under fire after thousands of Afghans who helped NATO and qualified to move to England under “Relocation and Help Policy (Sarap)” was believed to have been abandoned in Afghanistan, where they were at the mercy of the Taliban.
More than 8,000 did succeed, and the government announced on Wednesday that they would be given unlimited leave immediately to stay and that £ 15 million would be provided for additional school places and to support access to health services.
“We owed them greatly to those who worked with the armed forces in Afghanistan and I was determined that we gave them and their families supported them need to rebuild their lives in England,” Johnson said about what was called “warm welcome” steps.
“I know this will be a very frightening time, but I hope they will take the heart of the wave of support and generosity that has been expressed by the British public.” The government said the steps “will give Afghan people certainty and stability to rebuild their lives with rights that are not limited to work and the option to submit English citizenship in the future.” But officials today and ex have condemned the government, showing many more that can be saved.
The observer on Sunday quoted the Whistleblower who said thousands of emails from members of parliament and charity to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted certain Afghans at the risk of the Taliban takeover not opened.
Foreign Minister Dominic Raab has been very criticized for not leaving a beach vacation immediately when the Taliban took control.
The unnamed minister also told the Sunday Times that “I suspect we can issue 800-1,000 more people”.
Besides Arap, England also has a resettlement scheme for every day of Afghanistan who fled their home country, with around 5,000 expected this year and a total of 20,000.
Resettlement Minister Victoria Atkins on Wednesday told Sky News that had not yet decided whether those who arrived under this scheme would get unlimited leave.
Raab faced difficult hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, when he would be baked by parliamentarians for chaotic withdrawals.
Announced the evidence session, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Tom Tugendhat said that “the last two weeks have been difficult for many of us: anger, shame, even doubts”.
“We never thought we would see NATO forces, led by the US, would reverse their backs on Afghans.” How will we deal with the Taliban? How does Afghanistan form our regional strategy? How does the government hold the Taliban to take into account the reversal in human rights? “These questions, and so many other people will be included in the Secretary of Foreign.” Atkins said that the government would use “every lever we have …
to ensure that the Taliban live” to the resolution of the UN Security Council which calls for them to allow a safe passage for those who want to leave.