‘Liverpool stands ready to help’ Afghan refugees, says Mayor Joanne Anderson

Liverpool City Council is in discussions with the Government about supporting plans for a new refugee resettlement scheme for people from Afghanistan.

LiverpoolWorld reported on Tuesday that Afghan asylum seekers and refugees in the city have been sharing fears about their families safety after the Taliban seized control of the capital city, Kabul.

The Government has now announced a scheme which could see up to 20,000 Afghan refugees offered a home in the UK and “will work with local councils and other stakeholders, to ensure that Afghans who will be rebuilding their lives in the UK have the support they need”.

Liverpool City Council said it is in the process of “clarifying the terms of funding arrangements” with the Government and working with partners to identify suitable accommodation in the city.

Mayor Joanne Anderson said: “The images we are seeing from Afghanistan are truly heart breaking. Women and men are living in fear of their lives.

“Along with the rest of the world, the UK must play its part in helping – and Liverpool stands ready to assist.”

Fears for families

Merseyside charity, Asylum Link, which offers a range of services to asylum seekers and refugees who are in need, said on Tuesday that their Afghan clients had been traumatised by a lack of information about their families.

Asylum Link centre manager Ewan Roberts told LiverpoolWorld the charity has 127 clients from Afghanistan, adding: “This is a really difficult time for many Afghans here.

“We know one person who’s already lost a family member.

‘“The life of a refugee is never fully settled until you manage to get your family and loved ones to safety as well.

“A couple of years ago, one man was granted reunion visas for most of his family, but because he had some kids who were over 18, they were not allowed to join the rest of the family.

‘Now the Taliban are back in power and he’s distraught not knowing what will happen to his children left behind.

“Trying to find out what to do is baffling. The Home Office is impenetrable.

“There is no one to speak to, no way to get inside the maze of officialdom, no information despite the knowledge this has been coming for months.”

Government response

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to address parliament about the crisis in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

The Government said women, children and those most in need will be prioritised under the resettlement scheme. A total of 5,000 will be eligible in the first year, this is in addition to 5,000 former or current locally employed Afghan staff who worked for the UK.

Canada has already announced it will resettle more than 20,000 Afghan refugees.