On the eve of an extraordinary session of parliament devoted to the crisis linked to the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, the British government announced on Tuesday that it would launch a device intended to accommodate “in the long term” 20,000 Afghan refugees.

“We owe a debt to everyone who has worked with us to make Afghanistan a better place for the past 20 years.

Many of them, especially women, are now in urgent need of our help, ”Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a Home Office statement.

Women, girls and religious minorities in priority

He said he was "proud that the UK was able to put this path in place to help them and their families live safely in the UK."

The head of government will present this new device Wednesday morning to the deputies who have shortened their summer vacation to debate the subject in the House of Commons.

Faced with the rapid deterioration of the situation, criticisms have been raised, including in the conservative ranks of Boris Johnson, on his management of the crisis.

Boris Johnson spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, arguing for a “unified approach”.

He wants to organize a virtual meeting of G7 leaders in the coming days.

The new device he announces aims to welcome the first year 5,000 Afghan nationals "threatened by the current crisis", in particular women, girls and religious minorities, indicates the Ministry of the Interior.

More than 500 people evacuated by London

The government did not specify when it expected to have received 20,000 Afghans, simply referring to the "long term", but this new device is inspired by a program intended for Syrian refugees which allowed the installation of 20,000 Syrian refugees. in seven years, from 2014 to 2021. It is in addition to the ARAP program for Afghan staff employed by the United Kingdom, such as interpreters. According to government figures, 2,000 Afghans and their families have arrived in the UK since June 22 through the ARAP program which is expected to allow 5,000 former Afghan employees to settle in the UK by the end of the year. 'year.

The UK is deploying some 900 troops to Kabul to ensure the evacuation of its nationals and local staff.

Since Saturday, 520 British nationals, former Afghan employees and diplomats have left Afghanistan on military flights.

"We will not abandon the people who were forced to leave their homes and now live in terror of what could happen," said Interior Minister Priti Patel, who spoke with her counterparts about the "Five Eyes" »(United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada) measures to welcome Afghan refugees.

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