Afghan translators who risked their lives for Britain are denied entry on account of housing shortages

Resort rooms are being saved empty for Channel migrants – whereas Afghans who risked their lives for Britain are banned from coming right here.

About 2,000 Afghans supplied sanctuary after the Taliban swept again to energy are being denied entry into the UK, with officers blaming housing shortages.

But the Home Office admitted this week it was maintaining 5,000 unused lodge rooms as an ‘overspill’ for small boat migrants. That is thought to value taxpayers £5million per week.

The Afghans are languishing in resorts overseas ready for his or her visas – amongst them 700 youngsters. 

Their plight has been highlighted by the Each day Mail’s award-winning Betrayal of the Courageous marketing campaign.

About 2,000 Afghans who had been supplied sanctuary by the UK are being denied entry on account of a scarcity of housing (File Pphoto: The Vista Resort in Llanelli, Wales has been utilized by the Dwelling Workplace to briefly home asylum seekers)

Rafi Hottak, who was blown up in a blast that killed a UK officer, stated: ‘How can the Dwelling Workplace have 5,000 empty, paid-for lodge rooms when those that risked their lives for the UK are informed resorts will not be appropriate for them? 

‘It actually is difficult to consider that folks entitled to sanctuary within the UK are being made to attend for a lot of months whereas resorts are ready for others who’ve accomplished nothing for Britain.’

Hopes now relaxation on a looming showdown on the Excessive Court docket. The Dwelling Workplace is being challenged by legal professionals for the Afghans – and campaigners say the ministry’s case is hopeless.

The Afghans can not acquire a visa to journey right here with out proving they’ve housing. But it’s unlawful for international nationals to hire a house in Britain with no visa. 

Erin Alcock of solicitors Leigh Day, which is representing a number of the Afghans, stated: ‘A dedication was made to those that put their lives on the road for the British navy in Afghanistan.

‘My consumer and his household, like a whole bunch of others nonetheless ready, at the moment are informed there may be a further barrier to their relocation to security – one that’s unimaginable for many to fulfill.’

The Afghans have been granted safety right here underneath the Afghan Relocations and Help Coverage and the Afghan Residents Resettlement Scheme.

But one former translator has been in an abroad lodge room for greater than 18 months. One other 75 have been in resorts for greater than a yr.

The Dwelling Workplace has admitted it’s maintaining 5,000 lodge rooms empty for small boat migrants (File picture: Migrants cross the English Channel on an inflatable boat)

Karim, 36, a former supervisor of UK navy translators, who has been in a lodge in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad along with his spouse and baby for over a yr, stated: ‘The Taliban stopped our youngsters going to high school however by maintaining us in resorts, the British Authorities is stopping their training too.’

Dr Sara de Jong of the Sulha Alliance, which campaigns for ex-military translators, stated: ‘UK resorts supply no everlasting options, however they’re endlessly higher than resorts in Pakistan and different third international locations.’

Dwelling Workplace second everlasting secretary Simon Ridley informed MPs on Monday that 5,000 lodge rooms in Britain had been booked – and paid for – as a ‘buffer’ for the asylum processing centre at Manston in Kent.

A Dwelling Workplace spokesman stated: ‘We stay dedicated to offering safety for susceptible and at-risk individuals fleeing Afghanistan, with round 24,500 delivered to security within the UK to this point. 

‘We proceed to work throughout authorities and with companions to search out appropriate lodging for them.’