The British government wants to take in 20,000 refugees

The fate of Afghan refugees is dividing the European Union. While that Emmanuel Macron’s words calls for “Protect us from large flows of irregular migration” Under fire on the left, the British government announced on Tuesday 17 August that it wanted to take in 20,000 Afghan refugees. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will present a tool that facilitates Afghan access to British soil on Wednesday morning to MPs who cut short their summer vacation to debate the issue in the House of Commons.

“We are indebted to everyone who has worked with us to make Afghanistan a better place over the past 20 years. Many of them, especially women, now urgently need our help”Boris Johnson said in a statement to the Home Office. He said to himself “Proud that the UK has been able to put this path in place to help them and their families live in complete safety” across the Channel.

Priority for women and minorities

The new device aims to receive 5,000 Afghan citizens in the first year Threatened by the current crisisEspecially women, girls and religious minorities, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

The government did not specify when it expects to receive 20,000 Afghanis, citing simply “long term”, but was inspired by a device that allowed the installation of 20,000 Syrian refugees in seven years, from 2014 to 2021. In addition to the ARAP program for Afghan staff working in the UK, such as interpreters. According to government figures, 2,000 Afghans and their families have arrived in the UK since June 22 through the scheme, which is expected to allow 5,000 former Afghan employees to settle in the UK by the end of the year.

The UK is deploying around 900 troops in Kabul to ensure the evacuation of its nationals and local staff. Since Saturday, 520 Britons, former Afghan staff and diplomats have left Afghanistan on military trips.

British-American cooperation

Boris Johnson also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, calling for “united approach” And a virtual summit of the Group of Seven (Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom).

The White House and Downing Street said in two statements that US President Joe Biden and Boris Johnson had already agreed in a phone interview to attend the summit next week.

the two men They welcomed the cooperation of the United States and the United Kingdom. In evictions in Afghanistan, according to the British Prime Minister’s services. as they mentioned “The need to continue close cooperation between allies and democratic partners” On the issue of the country now in the hands of the Taliban, he confirmed the US presidency.