First Afghan translators land at city’s airport

THE first group of Afghan interpreters fleeing the Taliban arrived at Birmingham Airport last week.

The translators, who have worked with the British military in Afghanistan, are being brought to the UK under a Government scheme to protect them from reprisal attacks from the radical Islamist group.

More than 3,000 Afghans are expected to be settled in the UK in light of the planned withdrawal of British, US and NATO troops from the country over the next three months.

More than a dozen Afghans employed by UK forces and their families landed at Birmingham Airport last Tuesday, though this was not confirmed by the airport.

The council and the Home Office declined to comment on where they will be re-homed.

Dr Sara de Jong, senior lecturer in politics at the University of York, spoke on behalf of the Sulha Alliance – which campaigns for the rights of former Afghan interpreters who have served with the British military.

She said: “The flight went well, but has also been exhausting, especially for small kids, and the people are now in the required quarantine after travel.

“The Sulha Alliance is delighted to see that the group on the first flight has now been brought to safety in the UK. Many have been waiting for years to finally be relocated.

“But many more were still waiting on a decision on their applications.

“The Taliban are quickly gaining ground, currently taking over districts in the north of the country. The Government’s duty of care doesn’t end when interpreters arrive in the UK; many have psychological and physical injuries sustained in their work for British Armed forces, which they need support for. Their current visa status leaves them in a limbo with only limited access to education and employment.”

She said there had been no confirmation any of the interpreters will be resettled in Birmingham, and that it had not previously been a participating local authority.

Taliban insurgents are gaining control of territories across Afghanistan and have made death threats against those who have assisted the US and NATO operation.

A relocation scheme from the UK Government was opened up to translators in May.