Afghanistan: UK reveals refugee resettlement details as UN pledges $1bn in aid

The United Nations says $1.1bn (£750m) in donations has been promised to help Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country last month. Meanwhile the UK government elucidated its plan for resettling refugees - including an immediate right to work.

Tim Baker

Political reporter

Monday 13 September 2021 22:48, UK

The UK has given more details on its plan to resettle refugees from Afghanistan
Image: The UK has given more details on its plan to resettle refugees from Afghanistan
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More details for the UK scheme to resettle Afghan refugees have been provided by the government.

It comes as the United Nations revealed more than $1.1bn (£750m) has been pledged to help Afghanistan in the wake of the collapse of the previous regime and takeover of the Taliban.

The UK has said it will work with the UN's refugee agency - the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) - to find those refugees most at risk and help resettle them "based on their protection and humanitarian need".

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'Every Afghan is angry'

The UK government minister responsible for the resettlement of Afghans - Victoria Atkins - told the House of Commons on Monday how the administration will help those who assisted the British military and regime.

This will be done through two schemes - the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Police (ARAP), and the Afghan Citizen's Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).

Home Secretary Priti Patel and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick have asked for more councils to come forward to help Afghan refugees.

Measures announced by the UK government

  • Councils to receive £20,520 per person over three years for resettlement and integration costs
  • £4,500 per child for education, £850 to cover English courses for adults, and £2,600 to cover healthcare
  • The Afghan Housing Costs Fund go from £5m to £17m and extend for another two years to help local authorities provide housing
  • Nationals of countries aside from Afghanistan will be considered
  • Spouses, partners and dependent children under 18 of eligible people will also qualify - with other family members considered
  • Unaccompanied children will be resettled where it is “in their best interest” - eg they cannot be reunited with family
  • Government will launch launch surgeries with translators to help with questions on employment and benefits for those arriving in the UK
  • Eligibility for social housing and homelessness support, and access to benefits like Universal Credit
  • Immediate right to work

At the UN, Secretary General Antonio Guterres told a conference that Afghans were facing "perhaps their most perilous hour".

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"The people of Afghanistan are facing the collapse of an entire country - all at once".

He added that food could run out by the end of this month, with the World Food Programme saying 14 million people were on the brink of starvation.

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It was said that countries including China, Pakistan, Iran, Norway and the United State had all promised aid to Afghanistan.

It is not clear exactly how any aid will be handed out on the ground.

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