Glasgow offers Afghan refugees a safe haven

Glasgow City Council is offering assistance to those caught up in the Taliban taking over Afghanistan

People who worked with the UK authorities over the past 20 years and their families have been arriving in Glasgow since June.

The city’s new residents have already been granted refugee status by the Home Office under a pre-existing scheme for people who worked with British Forces - including interpreters - this means they have permission to live permanently in the UK.

Asylum seekers who come to the UK as part of the wider humanitarian effort will have to apply for Leave to Remain from the Home Office.

In the past few months, Glasgow’s Health & Social Care Partnership has helped the refugees, including 24 children, find accommodation and settle into their new lives in Scotland.

Councillor Jen Layden, convener for Equalities and Human Rights, called for immediate action from the UK Government to allow the city to put in place support similar to that to Syrian refugees fleeing their country’s civil war.

She said: “Glasgow has a proud record of welcoming people who have escaped conflict and persecution. We saw that most recently with the refuge and support provided to the Syrian men, women and children who fled the horrific civil war in their country.

“The images we are now seeing of events unfolding in Afghanistan are harrowing. We should all be concerned about the implications of the Taliban takeover of swathes of Afghanistan on human rights abuses and persecution of those they perceive to be their opponents.

“The UK Government has to step up to the plate. They must mobilise an Afghan programme with funding for local authorities and third sector organisations to support, similar to that put in place for fleeing Syrians, and do so immediately. Glasgow is already sheltering 24 Afghan families, and we stand ready to offer whatever additional support we can.”

Meanwhile, East Renfrewshire Council would give “serious” consideration to any requests to rehouse Afghan refugees, having previously participated in the Syrian Refugee Resettlement Scheme.

A spokesman said East Renfrewshire Council has yet to be approached about accommodating refugees by any authorities, but added: “If and when we do, any request to accommodate Afghan refugees will be given urgent and serious consideration.”