Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Afghan refugees in UK are homeless after government hotel evictions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 4 Aug 2023 16:33
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

Afghan refugees in the UK are homeless as a result of ongoing "shameless" evictions by the UK government.

  • x
  • Two girls from Afghanistan wait with other evacuees to fly to the United States or another safe location in a makeshift gate inside a hanger at the U.S. Air Base in Ramstein, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. (AP)
    Two girls from Afghanistan wait with other evacuees to fly to the United States or another safe location in a makeshift gate inside a hanger at the US Air Base in Ramstein, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021. (AP)

Afghan refugees in the United Kingdom are appearing to authorities as homeless after being kicked out of government hotels in "shameful" evictions. Many of the families migrated to the UK after the Taliban took power in 2021, having worked with or for the British government and armed forces in Afghanistan.

By the end of May, all 8,000 Afghans residing in bridging hotels had been presented with eviction notices, and the government had given them three months to find alternative housing.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, has now issued a warning after hearing claims that up to 20% of those removed had declared themselves homeless to local authorities. The hotels are being emptied in stages, with guests in the smaller hotels leaving first.

Labour MP Dan Jarvis, who served in Afghanistan, called the growing number of homeless families "shameful." He stated that moving people out of hotels was appropriate, but not at the rate that the government was doing it.

He said: “These are not economic migrants. These are Afghans who placed themselves in mortal peril to serve alongside British forces in Afghanistan and they did so at our request," adding that “These are people to whom we’ve given an invitation to come to our country. Nobody should be homeless, and these people need to be given the time and space ... to ensure that they are properly relocated.”

Read next: For the fourth time, Afghan refugee families in the UK face eviction

Speaking to Radio 4’s Today program, he added: “There is a real risk here that we are seeing what is both morally flawed and poor public policy because homeless families are being created. We owe them a debt of gratitude, so I think what we need to do is move at a pace that sees these Afghan families transition in a way that allows local authorities the time to identify suitable accommodation."

Related News

Rukban Syrian displacement camp near Jordan border shut down

Germany defies court ruling, to continue rejecting asylum seekers

"We are currently looking at around 50 individuals who do not have a viable option at the end of the rehousing process and for whom the council will need to assess a homelessness duty," a representative for West Northamptonshire Council told local media.

A government spokesperson said: “Hotels are not and were never designed to be long-term accommodation and it is not in Afghans’ best interests to be living in hotel accommodation for months or years on end.

Read next: EU accused of ‘staggering neglect’, just 271 Afghans resettled in bloc

Earlier in June, in a secret crisis meeting in Downing Street, UK, the government was warned that about 8,000 Afghan refugees who were evacuated during the US troops' exit from Kabul face homelessness this summer.

The government argued that acute housing shortage and high costs stood in the way of finding alternative residences for the refugees, especially given the beginning of the summer season, refugee canal crossings are also expected to increase.

However, The Observer, following an announcement that the government managed to acquire giant barrages to house about 1,000 refugees, discovered that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government had spent a large number of tax-payers' funds for a small value. 

For example, the outlet revealed that the UK Home Office spent £1.5 million through Serco, a contractor, to renovate a “substandard” former military base into an asylum-seeker reception center. However, this renovated location was never used.

The Guardian also reported that after failing to convert RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, MPs, and council members accused ministers of wasting taxpayer money, claiming the amount revealed to The Observer and Liberty Investigates, after a freedom of information battle, may only have been a small portion of the actual sum spent. 

  • Refugee crisis
  • Afghanistan
  • Afghan refugees
  • United Kingdom

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS