Last week, Baroness Goudie mentioned the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI) in the parliamentary questions. APBI is a joint project that we deliver with Safe Passage and our law firm partners.
She asked the government what they made of findings from our recent report, “Still Waiting: The Afghans Abandoned by the UK,” published in August.
In the report, we highlight the challenges facing Afghans seeking safety, and the issues plaguing the resettlement schemes that the UK government has put in place.
Lord Hanson of Flint (The Minister of State, Home Department) responded that the government are “determined to honour [their] commitments to bring eligible Afghans to the UK.”
He explained they’ll be prioritising those eligible under the resettlement schemes, and “fixing the gaps in existing routes.” This is why they launched an extension to the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), the Separated Families route.
We’re pleased the government has acknowledged our report and expressed their determination to help Afghans seeking safety.
However, Lord Hanson’s response fails to address any of the urgent or scheme-specific recommendations we outlined in our report. The resettlement schemes are plagued by severe delays, inconsistent decision making, and legal complexities. This makes them inaccessible for many Afghans, and many have been left in vulnerable situations for months and sometimes even years.
The findings from our report come from extensive casework, research, and meaningful conversations with community members and our clients. We have an understanding of the real issues affecting Afghans, and we know the resettlement schemes are inadequate.
We’ll continue to call on the government to address the recommendations outlined in our report, and fulfil their promises to Afghans.
