Northamptonshire Council leaders have pledged their support for Afghan refugees displaced after the Taliban took control of their homeland.
The UK has agreed to accept 20,000 refugees over the next few years and 5,000 are expected to come to the UK in 2021.
Thousands of Afghans tried to flee the country after the militants took control of the capital, Kabul.
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Horrible scenes have come from the Afghan city, which mostly revolves around the airport, with harrowing footage showing the separation of families and people who risk their lives to flee the county.
Both West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire Councils have now pledged their support for the relocation campaign.
A spokeswoman for West Northamptonshire Council said the agency was “very interested in helping”.
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She said: “The central government and the East Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership have invited West Northants Council to participate in the Afghan resettlement program for local workers.
“We are aware of the current situation in Afghanistan and the urgent need to get families to safety as quickly as possible.
“We are eager to help and are in early discussions with the Home Office on how we can provide assistance.”
Meanwhile, Jason Smithers, chairman of North Northamptonshire Council, said it was “important” that the agency support the campaign.
A U.S. Marine is sprayed with water by children at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan
(Image: Sgt.Samuel Ruiz / US Marine Corps via AP)
“I believe we owe our gratitude to the refugees from Afghanistan, many of whom have put their lives in danger to help us,” he said.
“I think it is important that we live up to our moral obligation to help where we can.
“We are working to understand more about the situation and the demands on the councils so that we can best determine what we can do to help.”
The new program will work in the same way as an existing program for interpreters and other Afghans who have worked for the UK government – the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
According to the government, nearly 2,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in the UK since June 22nd.
Officials say an additional 5,000 are expected to enter the country through the new program by the end of the year.
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