£200m fund to help Afghans settle in the UK
CITY AMONG THOSE THAT
FURTHER details have been revealed about plans to welcome refugees from Afghanistan to Leicester.
The Mercury reported on Monday that the city had become one of the first to volunteer to take a number of the 20,000 refugees being brought to the UK as they flee the Taliban.
Many are people who worked alongside the US-backed government or supported British and American troops and other organisations during the 20-year war, which was started after the Taliban refused to hand over Osama Bin Laden.
The UK government has announced a £200 million fund for Operation Warm Welcome to help the refugees coming to Leicester and elsewhere to settle in, rebuild their lives and find work.
The new details include a pledge by the UK government to ensure all the refugees get healthcare, school places for their children and are granted indefinite leave to remain.
That will mean they will have the right to work in the UK, rather than being in limbo like most asylum seekers.
There will be no time limit on their right to be in the UK, either.
Afghans already here – many of whom were only given temporary leave to remain – will be given the same rights.
The government said in a statement yesterday: “This will give
Afghans the certainty and stability to rebuild their lives with unrestricted rights to work and the option to apply for British citizenship in the future.”
The £200 million fund will include £12 million to provide extra school places, school transport and English language lessons for the younger refugees.
Further funding will be provided for up to 300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for Afghans at UK universities and adults will also be able to access English language courses free of charge.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We owe an immense debt to those who worked with the armed forces in Afghanistan and I am determined we give them and their families the support they need to rebuild their lives here in the UK.
“I know this will be an incredibly daunting time, but I hope they will take heart from the wave of support and generosity already expressed by the British public.”
The £200 million will also fund: £3 million for the NHS to ensure they can access healthcare and register with a GP;
Covid vaccines for the arrivals; £5 million funding for councils to help meet the costs of renting properties;
An online portal to allow members of the public to submit offers of support for the new arrivals. Earlier this week, city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “As we have always done, Leicester will welcome those seeking refuge from conflict and oppression. “In addition to our long-standing commitment to provide support, we will be taking the opportunity to participate in the resettlement scheme announced this week as a response to the awful situation in Afghanistan. “We expect resources will be provided to councils and our local partners so we can provide and co-ordinate the support that will be needed.
“Leicester will proudly offer sanctuary and a home to Afghans fleeing the Taliban.
“The support that is being offered to Afghans highlights the lack of help and resource being given to people fleeing similar threat and oppression elsewhere. “These people are welcome in Leicester, too, and deserve better from the government.”
WILL OFFER
I am determined we give them and their families the support they need to rebuild their lives here Boris Johnson