Lewisham Council has called on the Government to implement a Afghan refugee resettlement as soon as possible so the borough can prepare itself to offer sanctuary.

The Taliban, an Islamist organisation, moved into Kabul on Sunday, as the UK and its military allies departed the country after nearly two decades.

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have already been internally displaced as a result of conflict this year, with many more fearing reprisals as the Taliban assume complete control.

Writing to Home Secretary Priti Patel, Kevin Bonavia, Cabinet Member for Democracy, Refugees & Accountability, stressed Lewisham’s readiness to help.

He said: “Lewisham and many other local authorities stand ready to work with the Government in resettling those Afghans who desperately need a place of welcome and safety.

“As a Borough of Sanctuary, we are committed to supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugee’s and to date have resettled 33 refugee families via the Syrian Resettlement Programme and U

“We have already committed Lewisham’s participation in the Afghan Relocation Scheme for locally employed staff supporting the UK in Afghanistan, but the scheme is limited in scope and we are concerned about the 12-month time limit in funding provided for the staff and their families.”

Echoing calls by groups such as Amnesty International UK, Cllr Bonavia called on the Government to go further than its current relocation scheme.

He argued that the Government should set national targets as it did in the Syrian Resettlement Programme, allowing councils to plan effectively to settle Afghans in their communities.

Lewisham became the first council in the UK to be formally recognised as a ‘sanctuary’ for refugees and asylum seekers in June.

In the last two years the borough has welcomed 90 unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, in addition to 33 Syrian families resettled.

The Prime Minister is said to be planning to unveil a “bespoke” resettlement scheme to allow fleeing Afghans to set up home in the UK shortly.

The Telegraph reported the concept could be similar to that used to take in Syrian refugees in 2015, which saw women with children, people with serious medical conditions and survivors of torture prioritised.

Around 900 armed forces are currently in Afghanistan helping to bring UK nationals home and secure the safety of selected Afghans.

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