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British Afghan Citizens are struggling to get their vulnerable immediate family memeber out of Afghanistan. The situation is very concerning and extremely disappointing considering we (British Afghans) are paying taxes that fund the Defence and Military budget. To state it frankly, those Taxes have funded our presence in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban, and today the Government, the Home Office and MOD send us automated messages as our “vulnerable” relatives remain fugitives in Afghanistan.

The Home Office states they are committed to providing protection to “vulnerable” Afghans fleeing Afghanistan. It provides an exhaustive list of who qualifies as “vulnerable”. A contact number and email address is provided for those who qualify. The phone number is inundated with calls and when we do get through we are told to wait for a call; to date no one has received that call. The email addresses send you automated responses and we are still awaiting personalise responses to our personal cases and situations.

The UK launched a resettlement scheme named ARAP for all those Afghans, currently or formerly employed directly by HMG which in a non-exhaustive list and includes anyone on HMG payroll from interpreters to gardeners and painters. Whilst this is a great incentive to support British missions abroad, we are concerned why UK Government is failing to recognise that British Afghan Tax payers have also played meaningful and enabling roles by funding the Military mission in Afghanistan, thus making a material difference in its mission. It is those Tax payers’ “vulnerable” relatives who remains stranded in Afghanistan.

In other cases what further frustrates us is that key-workers who have worked tirelessly during the Pandemic supporting the Government during each lockdown are also rewarded with automated emails and advised to “wait" for possible evacuation calls.

The Government needs to act urgently and address British Afghans in this situation. Paying taxes to the Government and risking our lives as key-workers for the Government should at least allow us to save our “vulnerable” families and loved ones. We cannot be expected to live normal lives and continue working if it is too little, too late to get help for our loved ones. If it was your family or loved one, what would you expect from the Government? 

The Government, the Home Office and the MOD have all failed not just the people of Afghanistan but it has also betrayed British Citizens and their families. It is unforgivable and we request you to support us in asking the government to urgently evacuate and resettle the families of British Afghans as a priority. 

Here are a few reasons for why:

1. Councils are currently lobbying the Government to ensure that resources and plans are in place for the Afghan refugees. By prioritising vulnerable families of British Afghans you are ensuring that this group of refugees will have accommodation ready and arranged by their British Afghan relatives. This, will alleviate existing pressure on Councils and the Government won’t need to pay for it.

2. Having Tax paying relatives will ensure this group of Refugees who come to UK have a hardworking and tax paying citizen as example and inspiration to lead by. Their British relatives will help them integrate into our society, help them find a job and ensure they too become tax paying members of the British community. Both Afghan Council of Great Britain and Afghan Business Association UK are working in partnership on this approach as part of their “Integration Of New Afghans” policy.

3. The British Afghan community has been hit with the feeling of complete betrayal by the UK Government. If it was any other community let down like this by the Government, they too would feel the same betrayal. The British Afghans cannot be expected to continue living and working as second class citizens if they feel their vulnerable families have been abandoned by the Government. Prioritising their vulnerable families at risk of violence, torture and genocide will play a major role in citizen appreciation and avoid a lamentable decline of the integrity of Government.

4. Despite the “warm welcome” campaign, tensions remain high amongst most British Citizens speculating about this influx of “unknown” refugees and pressure on public services despite the fact that resettlement of 20,000 Afghans over 5 years compared to 300,000 from Hong Kong is a drop in the ocean. Prioritising vulnerable families of British Citizens will address these concerns as these refugees are vulnerable relatives of the tax paying British Citizen and community will support the new arrivals instead of the government.

5. British Afghan Citizens are currently supporting their vulnerable relatives in Afghanistan by monthly transferring thousands of pounds of their hard-earned money across to them. This is money that is directly leaving the UK economy and going to Afghanistan. Prioritising vulnerable relatives of British Afghans will ensure this hard-earned money remains in the UK, supports people in here and grows our British economy during these difficult financial times.

The Government has clearly decided and announced to take in Afghan Refugees but why it closes not to prioritise immediate family members of British Citizens is beyond us. Please sign the petition and guide the Government into making the right decision for Britain. 

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