‘Tiny quantity’ of Afghan refugees with out everlasting houses as lodge deadline looms, minister says

A “very tiny number” of Afghan refugees are nonetheless with out everlasting houses two years after arriving within the UK, in accordance with the federal government.

Veterans minister Johnny Mercer insisted “nobody is sleeping rough, nobody will sleep rough” when requested in regards to the finish of the lodge section of the Afghan resettlement scheme this month.

After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the British army airlifted hundreds of individuals to security – and supplied others refuge by way of two schemes.

The majority of the 25,000 individuals who finally arrived labored for the British authorities and the armed forces in Afghanistan, and so they initially lived in motels.

Mr Mercer at present confirmed that “the vast majority of them are in settled long term accommodation”.

In May, the Home Office advised these in motels they need to transfer out of this “bridging” lodging by 31 August.

The authorities has promised to seek out them “settled accommodation”, however Mr Mercer admitted at present this has not but been the truth for all Afghans delivered to the UK.

He stated there’s a “very, very tiny number” who’ve “not accepted accommodation”.

The minister stated further funding of £9,000 might be handed to native authorities to assist them “look after” refugees till they are often discovered long run houses.

Mr Mercer added: “You’re talking tiny numbers in that space.

“The overwhelming majority have resettled into long run lodging and may begin constructing the lives as was promised once we took them out of Afghanistan.”

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Pressed on the matter, he reiterated that “no one might be sleeping tough because of this coverage”.

“Hotels usually are not a long run answer for these households, it is unfair on them, it is unfair on the British taxpayer,” the minister said.

“We’re working actually arduous to generate virtually 1,000 properties now,” he said, adding that 400 people a week are moving into “settled, long run lodging”.

Mr Mercer denied reports the Home Office has offered hundreds of Afghan refugees accommodation in empty army barracks.

He said: “Nobody, completely no one, is housed in military barracks.”