The British Conservative government announced on Tuesday a plan to relocate 8,000 Afghans who arrived in the United Kingdom after fleeing the Taliban, and who are still in hotels, a project much criticized by the opposition and associations for the defense of refugees.
The United Kingdom has taken in 24,500 Afghans since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. Around 8,000 are still staying in hotels.
Half of them are children.
"
This is an unacceptable situation
," Veterans Affairs Secretary Johnny Mercer told the House of Commons.
Hotel accommodation was to be "
a temporary solution
" to respond to an "
emergency
" after "
an unprecedented evacuation
", he added.
“
This needs to change to help people rebuild their lives here
said the Secretary of State.
The cost of these hotel accommodations amounts to around 1 million pounds (1.14 million euros) per day, he also put forward.
Johnny Mercer has announced funding of 35 million pounds sterling (39.8 million euros) to help Afghans find housing, employment and to finance English lessons.
It is, according to him, “a
generous offer
”.
A single housing offer
Afghans who are in hotels will start receiving letters at the end of April explaining that they need to find new accommodation.
Those who refuse an offer of housing will not have others, explained Johnny Mercer.
There is "
no guarantee that they will be offered suitable accommodation
", criticized Labor MP John Healey in the Commons.
“
Can the Minister guarantee today that none of these Afghans will be homeless after leaving hotels where they are currently living?
»
The Refugee Council, which helps migrants, said it was "
deeply worried
" about the government's plan.
“
There is a risk that these people who fled the Taliban in Afghanistan will find themselves homeless and destitute on British streets
,” criticized Enver Salomon, president of the Refugee Council.
"
Put pressure on Afghan families (to leave hotels, editor's note) risks causing them great anxiety after experiencing trauma and upheaval
," he added.
The Refugee Council acknowledges that the hotels are not suitable accommodation for refugees, but blames the government and its "
mismanagement
" for the fact that thousands of Afghans are still there.