Hampshire councils to accept vulnerable Afghan families as military move out

ALMOST two dozen vulnerable Afghan families are set to be rehoused in Hampshire as the UK and US military operation is wound down.

US and UK forces are beginning a final withdrawal from Afghanistan, having initially been deployed in 2001, with aims to get all troops out by September, writes David George of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But in the past 20 years, many Afghan families have supported British troops as translators, guides and more – leaving them in a potentially dangerous situation when the armed forces leave.

The Home Office has accelerated a scheme to get these families rehoused in the UK, and Hampshire County Council is looking to take up to 22 of the 600 estimated families.

The county council agreed at a meeting that, with Home Office funding, these families will be rehoused across the county via district and borough councils, including the New Forest, which have all given their backing to the scheme.

Cllr Liz Fairhurst, HCC cabinet member for adult services and public health, called for swift action to be taken, saying "otherwise they will be stuck in hotels with nowhere to go".

She added: "We will be doing right by these families."

HCC director of adults’ health and care Stephen White said the families would be "at risk" if left behind in Afghanistan.As part of the initiative, homeless services society Two Saints will also offer support through the programme.

While all councils are on board, there are concerns about the levels of funding that will be provided by the Home Office.

Cllr Ann Briggs, Conservative for Waterloo and Stakes, said: "I am really happy with the programme that we’re putting in place.

"My main concern is what happens if we don’t get funding after the first year.

"Some of the men, if they’ve been interpreters, are going to speak English, but for the women – who live a much more sheltered life – it’s going to be a huge learning curve for them."