UK Unaware of Whereabouts of Over 7,000 Afghans Resettled Under Government Program
An official report in the United Kingdom reveals that British authorities do not know the fate or whereabouts of more than 7,000 Afghan nationals resettled in the country under the government’s relocation program.
According to the UK National Audit Office report, nearly one-fifth of approximately 38,000 Afghans who were relocated to Britain over the past five years have an unknown place of residence. The report states that some of these individuals decided on their own where to live after arriving or left temporary hotel accommodations without providing new addresses.
The Afghan resettlement program was launched following the political changes in 2021 and the Taliban’s return to power, events that compelled thousands to flee the country. However, the new report indicates that managing and tracking the status of resettled individuals has faced serious challenges.
The National Audit Office also estimated that the cost of implementing this program has reached around £5.7 billion to date, funded by taxpayers. Despite a decline in new arrivals, the costs of the scheme have increased by 15 percent.
The transfer and resettlement process for Afghans is expected to continue until 2033, with a total of approximately 48,000 individuals planned to be relocated under this program. Further details regarding how authorities monitor and follow up on the status of resettled individuals remain unclear.
