FOUR Afghan families are set to be re-homed in Basingstoke and Deane, the council has confirmed.

In April 2021, the government launched the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme to offer former locally employed staff in Afghanistan relocation opportunities and other assistance, in recognition of their commitment and bravery shown supporting UK forces since 2013.

Under the scheme, any current or former locally employed staff assessed to have a serious threat to life will be offered priority relocation to the UK.

Women and girls, and religious and other minorities most at risk of human rights abuses will also be prioritised under the scheme.

They will be offered the chance to set up life in the UK permanently, with priority given to women and girls, and religious and other minorities most at risk of human rights abuses.

Following the latest developments in Afghanistan, the scheme is being stepped up, and an initial four properties are now being made available in the borough.

Basingstoke and Deane borough council has confirmed they are working together with Hampshire County Council, housing providers Sovereign and VIVID and the Social Inclusion Partnership to coordinate a range of support services for the new families set to arrive in the borough.

Cabinet Member for Homes and Housing Regeneration Cllr Tristan Robinson told the Gazette: “The distressing scenes witnessed in Afghanistan have affected many people across the country and within our own borough. Basingstoke and Deane has a proud history of helping the government meet its international and moral obligations by providing homes for refugees looking to start a new life away from violence and persecution.

“We are committed to ensuring the borough plays its part in assisting the government’s plans to support families from Afghanistan, especially those who assisted the British Armed Forces, as part of the Locally Employed Staff Scheme.

“Working closely with our partners and led by Hampshire County Council, we have already made plans to support families as part of this scheme by offering new homes and support services to help them rebuild their lives and are ready to continue our track record of support as more guidance becomes available from the government on its plans to provide homes for Afghan refugees in the coming years.”

Basingstoke and Deane is already home to four of the Syrian refugees housed across the UK, figures show.

Figures from the House of Commons Library show four people had resettled in Basingstoke and Deane through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme by the end of March- a similar scheme to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy scheme.

And according to the latest population estimates, that means Syrian refugees make up fewer than one in every 10,000 Basingstoke and Deane residents.

Enver Solomon, chief executive at the Refugee Council, said: "Councils need to be able to make plans with the assurance that all the resources they require are provided by central government.

"The Syrian scheme was a success because of long-term careful planning and collaboration with local areas and agencies and it will be critical for the same to happen given the challenges councils are facing as a result of the pandemic and overall financial pressures."

He urged the Government to allow those with relatives already in the UK to safely join them and suspend the return of anyone refused asylum back to Afghanistan.