Powys doubles Afghan family numbers

Powys County Council has doubled the amount of families it will rehouse in the county from three to six, it has been confirmed.

The increase follows discussions between the county council and housing associations as Britain looks to respond to the crisis through the Home Office Afghan Resettlement and Assistance Programme.

Cabinet Member for Housing Iain McIntosh said: “As the crisis continues to unfold in Afghanistan and, following on from the support and sanctuary our communities in Powys have offered refugees in the past, I am very pleased that we are now able to offer homes to six vulnerable Afghan families fleeing the country. I’d like to thank our housing association partners for helping to safely accommodate the extra families, who I am sure will be welcomed by Powys residents.”

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Myfanwy Alexander added: “We have all been touched by the plight of those whose support for our armed forces meant that they could not safely remain in Taliban controlled Afghanistan. We proud to welcome some of these people to Powys where we can support them as they recover from this acute crisis in their lives.”

Local authorities across the UK have been asked to help resettle up to 3,000 people made up of those who were employed by the British forces and their families. The Home Office will be responsible for sourcing initial temporary accommodation, and funding Covid quarantine arrangements which will be needed when they arrive in the UK.