Councils offer homes to Afghan refugees
BOROUGHS ANSWER CALLS TO TAKE IN FAMILIES
councils have pledged to help Afghan refugee families.
Oadby and Wigston and Melton boroughs both said they would invite two families forced to flee the Taliban to settle.
They were answering a call from the Ministry of Defence to local authorities around the country to help about 600 families.
Many of the people Britain is trying to help leave Afghanistan acted as interpreters or translators, and the situation in the country now puts their lives at risk.
Councillor Bill Boulter, chairman of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Armed Forces Working Group, said: “These individuals and families served alongside our armed forces in Afghanistan and have now been placed in grave danger.
“It is our duty to offer our support and I know people in Oadby and Wigston will be proud that we are doing our bit to help.
“The borough council is a proud signatory of the Armed Forces Community Covenant and has a long history of supporting our armed forces. We look forward to welcoming these families to our community.”
The Ministry of Defence has said it hopes to relocate all the affected families by the end of September.
The council said it will work with other local authorities in LeicesterTWO shire to arrange the necessary accommodation, in line with the needs of the families.
Melton Borough Council leader Joe Orson, said “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the interpreters and other local employed staff who risked their lives working alongside
UK forces in Afghanistan and we have a moral obligation to ensure their safety.
“Melton has a long history of ties to the armed forces and we look forward to welcoming these two households to the borough.
“It is right that we act quickly and are proactive in helping people through these difficult and unimaginable circumstances.”
Councillor Malise Graham, portfolio holder for people and communities said “Many locally employed staff in Afghanistan, who not only provided vital support but have risked their lives alongside British Forces in Afghanistan for over 20 years, are in very real danger.
“It is important that we are proactive in supporting this call to action.
“We are proud to be able to play our part in this very worthwhile scheme and hope our residents will join us in welcoming two new families to the borough in the coming weeks and months.”