Afghans who worked with British Forces could be resettled in Lancashire as Taliban take control

People fleeing war in Afghanistan could be resettled with families in Pendle and other Lancashire boroughs.

It is part of a government scheme aimed at supporting those who worked alongside British Forces in war-torn countries and their families.

It comes as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates rapidly, with the Taliban taking control of most of the country two decades after western military intervention.

The UK Government is bringing 'considerable pressure' on all local councils to rehouse Afghans needing refuge.

Boris Johnson has called an emergency Cobra meeting for Monday afternoon to discuss the unfolding crisis and has recalled Parliament for a debate on Wednesday.

Pendle's Policy & Resources Committee will be asked to approve the council's involvement in accepting refugees from February 2022 under the Government's UK Resettlement Scheme and an additional programme called the Afghan Locally Engaged Staff Relocation Scheme.

The district councils were approached in late 2019 to each take 10 refugee households over a four year period, but the resettlement did not go ahead due to the pandemic.

The UK Resettlement Scheme, which caters for refugees from all over the world including from the Middle East, Syria and North Africa, and has now started again.

If confirmed, the government will fund Lancashire County Council to take refugees in.

No costs should fall upon Pendle, according to notes for the Policy & Resources Committee meeting on Thursday evening.

Refugee families are not expected to arrive all at once in any area.