Gwynedd to offer homes to Afghan refugees:
REGION JOINS UK-WIDE EFFORT TO PROVIDE SAFE HAVENS TO PEOPLE FLEEING TALIBAN
ALL six local authorities in North Wales have committed to offering safe havens to Afghan refugees.
The pledge came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised up to 5,000 Afghans would be given refuge in the UK this year, and 20,000 over the longer term.
There are around 10 families from Afghanistan who have or are in the process of being resettled in North Wales, but that number is expected to increase following the Taliban’s dramatic return to power last Sunday.
The return of the Taliban has heightened the need for safe havens, raising particular fears over the future of women and girls, as well as for the safety of former government officials and translators who supported western military forces.
The House of Commons was recalled early from its summer recess, to debate the crisis and to formalise plans for a Home Office funded Afghan Resettlement and Assistance Programme.
During the debate, Mr Johnson reiterated a promise that thousands of Afghans would be given sanctuary in the UK.
Andrew Morgan, leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), said if every part of the UK took refugees fleeing Afghanistan, “less than a handful” would be housed in each area.
“I wouldn’t want it on my conscience that we see in a month’s time that a number of individuals and families are being killed in Afghanistan when we had the opportunity to help them,” he added.
The Welsh Government’s Minister for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said it was “working very hard with our local authorities and the UK government to ensure we do what we can to provide support in the right places to find homes for people fleeing the situation in Afghanistan”.
“We are working towards being a nation of sanctuary.”
North Wales councils confirmed how many Afghan refugees are already living here and their intention to take in more.
ANGLESEY
The authority is supporting the UK Government’s scheme with hopes to resettle one Afghan family on the island.
No arrivals had made it so far, however.
GWYNEDD
Gwynedd Council says two individuals had already been housed after fleeing Afghanistan, with the authority committed to housing more.
Council leader Dyfrig Siencyn said: “The images emerging from Afghanistan are tragic and we as a council are committed to doing everything within our power and resources to provide refugees with a home and support for them to resettle within their new communities.
“We have been working with the Home Office for some weeks to accelerate our plans to house Afghan refugees following recent developments in the country.”
CONWY
Last month, councillors in Conwy backed plans to house one Afghan family in the county. The report noted that the authority would be expected to provide an integration package including accommodation, advice and assistance covering employment, welfare benefits, housing, health, education and utility supply, and registration with GPs with assistance in securing school places for school aged children and cash support.
DENBIGHSHIRE
According to Denbighshire Council, one family has already been offered accommodation in the county.
A council spokesman added: “In November 2019, the Council’s Cabinet committed to supporting the UK Resettlement Scheme and under this scheme we have been able to offer accommodation to one family under the Afghan Relocation Assistance Programme.”
WREXHAM
Last month it was revealed that Wrexham was initially asked to take in a total of five families as part of the Home Office’s Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy. However, the local authority has offered to provide accommodation for double that amount.
Cllr Hugh Jones (pictured), the council’s lead member for people, said: “We recognise a particular case for these workers who have done a very important job in supporting our armed forces and our whole presence in Afghanistan. They put their lives at risk in order to do that and it’s important that they’re not left stranded.
“We have a duty of care as they have given service to our country and to our armed forces in particular.”
FLINTSHIRE
Flintshire Council is also committed to backing the scheme, but did not reveal how many families they hoped to welcome. Chief Officer for Housing and Assets Neal Cockerton said: “Flintshire will be supporting the Afghan Resettlement and Assistance Programme and is currently working with a number of agencies to understand specific requirements and details of such assistance.”