Today, the House of Commons Defence Committee published its report on the Ministry of Defence Afghan data breach and resettlement schemes.  

Shamim Sarabi, Community Engagement and Research Lead at RLS, states:

"We welcome the Defence Committee's careful examination of the Ministry of Defence data breach and its impact on the lives of affected Afghans. The Committee's recommendations are an important step towards improving transparency, accountability and the UK's response to those whose lives have been placed at greater risk.

"Refugee Legal Support was proud to provide evidence to the inquiry, drawing on research with individuals directly affected by the breach. Our evidence highlighted the significant human impact of the breach: among 230 respondents who had been informed that their data had been compromised, 200 (87%) reported personal risks or threats to themselves or their family members. The Committee also cited our finding that only 38% of respondents found the security advice provided by the Ministry of Defence to be helpful, while 63% felt they had been informed too late. Together, these findings illustrate the fear, uncertainty and loss of trust experienced by many Afghans affected.

"We hope the Committee's findings and recommendations contribute to greater accountability and , meaningful action to provide appropriate support to the individuals affected by the data breach directly.”  

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