Following the conclusion of the UK’s Afghanistan evacuation, the SNP has said the UK government must take full responsibility for those left behind and do more to support Afghan refugees and those at risk of violence from the new regime.
The call comes as the last of UK troops, diplomats and officials arrive in the UK from Kabul, while around 1000 Afghans – possibly more – looking to escape and eligible for resettlement are left behind.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace previously said he believed between 800 and 1,100 eligible Afghans would be left behind and it has been reported today that thousands of emails to the Foreign Office from MPs and charities detailing urgent cases of Afghans trying to escape from Kabul have not been read, including cases flagged by government ministers.
The SNP has called for the Prime Minister to substantially increase the number of refugees the UK is willing to take and work with international partners to secure safe routes for evacuation, relocation and resettlement for refugees, interpreters and people at risk from the Taliban regime.
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP (pictured) said:
“I pay tribute to and thank the brave men and women in our armed forces that worked tirelessly to evacuate those they could in the time they had.
“But the fact remains the UK government has had eighteen months to prepare for its withdrawal from Afghanistan – it should have done more sooner.
“And the Foreign Office has serious questions to answer over the fact that thousands of emails detailing urgent cases of Afghans were ignored.
“It is shameful that in their moment of need, countless Afghan pleas were ignored by the UK government.
“UK ministers must accept their share of responsibility and do more to support the many Afghan citizens who are clearly in danger, and have been left behind in fear for their lives, safety and human rights.
“It is crucial that Boris Johnson commits to substantially increase the number of Afghan refugees the UK is willing to take, works to secure safe routes for resettlement for Afghan refugees and reverses the 78% cut to bilateral aid to Afghanistan.
“Aid to Afghanistan should never have been cut in the first place as troops were withdrawing.
“The UK Parliament must be recalled immediately so MPs can scrutinise the UK government’s actions – or lack of action – in this foreign policy disaster, and the Prime Minister can set out what steps he will take next to support those left behind.
“The SNP will continue to press for Boris Johnson to significantly increase support for Afghan refugees and those in need of help.”
