Kentish Express Ashford & District
HOTEL TAKES IN AFGHAN REFUGEES
MORE THAN 100 TEMPORARILY HOUSED AT HOLIDAY INN
A hotel near Ashford is being used to house several dozen Afghan families brought to the UK following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.
The Kentish Express understands more than 100 people are being temporarily housed at the Holiday Inn on the A20 in Hothfield while more permanent accommodation is found.
It is also understood the Home Office has taken out a long-term contract with the 92-room hotel in Maidstone Road, meaning other guests cannot currently check in.
Separate to those housed temporarily at the hotel, three Afghan households have already arrived in Ashford to
be settled in the community as part of Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) wider commitment to support incoming refugees.
The authority says it is looking to increase this to take between
five and 10 families.
In a statement released this week, a spokesman confirmed it is working with central government to support the families at the Holiday Inn while they are
in the borough.
“These are individuals and their families who have worked with our armed forces and British government in Afghanistan,” they said.
“The Home Office is using the hotel as a holding centre until the families can be moved to permanent accommodation within the UK. Some may stay only a short period while this happens, while others may be in the hotel for a longer time.
“Our officers will be helping with this project by providing welfare support to these families
while they are in our borough. Council officers are helping liaise between the Afghans and the Home Office.”
The council has thanked residents and organisations, such as the Ashford Volunteer Centre, who have donated food, clothing, toiletries and toys for families arriving in the borough.
ABC leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson has described the response of the people of Ashford to the Afghan crisis as “magnificent”.
He said: “Staff have been inundated with offers of help and donations of clothes, shoes, toiletries
and other items which will go a long way to help the Afghan families staying at the hotel and also the families that we are looking to integrate into our local communities.
“Our hard-working staff many of whom have volunteered to give up their time to help with the effort of organising such an enormous humanitarian task - have been overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness shown by local people.
“On their behalf I’d like to thank everyone who has offered their help and given donations.”