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The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has disclosed that 2,356 Afghan nationals are currently being housed at various military sites across the UK.
These Afghan nationals, including interpreters and other civilian and military allies, arrived in the UK through the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Programme (ARAP), not through the asylum system. Under ARAP, they are given the right to stay in the UK permanently as soon as they arrive, without having to go through the process of claiming refugee status.
In addition to interpreters, those housed in MoD accommodations include other locally employed civilians who worked with the British Army, such as mechanics, as well as military personnel like 444/333 – two Afghan army units known collectively as the Triples – who collaborated with British special forces.
Out of all the Afghans in temporary accommodations, the MoD reported that 679 have been living there for more than six months.
The numbers revealed in a Freedom of Information Act disclosure to Byline Times, listed locations referred to as Reception Staging and Onward Movement (RSOM) and Transitional Service Family Accommodation (TSFA) sites, and are up to June 2024.
At the RSOM sites: 202 people are staying at Beachley, 81 at Cameron, 204 at Chickerell, 221 at Crowborough, 213 at Garats Hay, 284 at Nescliffe, 103 at St Athan, and 148 at Swynnerton. For the TSFA sites, there are 378 people at Beachley, 265 at Larkhill, 175 at Shrivenham, and 82 at Weeton.
Resettlement Challenges and Legal Battles
The MoD’s disclosure comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the UK’s handling of Afghan resettlement cases. The plight of Afghan interpreters has brought significant attention to the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by those who risked their lives supporting British forces.
Ahmad*, an interpreter from Helmand province, resettled in the UK after a protracted legal battle and over two years of uncertainty. Initially approved for relocation in late 2020, Ahmad faced a Home Office refusal and missed the 2021 evacuation. His eventual relocation was only secured after a series of judicial review challenges.
Ongoing Risks and Policy Adjustments
Between hundreds and thousands of Afghan nationals eligible under ARAP also remain in precarious situations in Pakistan and Iran.
The recent deportation of an Afghan interpreter from Pakistan, only for the MoD to admit an error in his case days later, shows the very personal cost of administrative failures. This interpreter, described by his British colleagues as an “enthusiastic supporter of the UK mission,” faced grave risks upon his return to Afghanistan before managing to re-enter Pakistan.
Legal representatives and advocacy groups, such as the Sulha Alliance, the only UK charity whose work solely focuses on supporting Afghan interpreters and civilians who worked for the British Army, have been vocal about the urgent need to expedite the resettlement process.
“The government’s delays and errors have left many in dangerous limbo,” said Sara de Jong, co-founder of the Sulha Alliance.
Unfit for Heroes?
The settlement of hundreds of Afghans in military accommodation is set against a backdrop of widespread questions about the conditions of British army housing in general.
In June, the Kerslake Commission’s report, “Homes Unfit for Heroes,” exposed a grim situation in MoD accommodation for armed forces personnel and their families.
The report highlighted widespread issues, including dampness, mould, heating problems, gas and electrical faults, and pest infestations. It also found that, despite contractual obligations, the maintenance and repair services managed by private contractors failed to resolve the significant backlog of repairs, with numerous complaints about poor service delivery, missed appointments, and substandard workmanship.
As General Sir Richard Barrons said of the current situation: “The longstanding neglect of service housing is a disservice to our highly valued service personnel.”
In addition, military function of these relocation sites could potentially contribute to a sense of uncertainty and impermanence among Afghan residents, impacting their mental health and integration into UK society.
Government Response and Future Directions
The MoD has often stated its commitment to fulfilling its obligations to those who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan. A spokesperson recently highlighted that around 24,600 individuals have been brought to safety under various Afghan resettlement schemes. Policy changes, such as the removal of the housing requirement for relocation approval, are claimed to be able to streamline the process and prevent further delays.
However, earlier this month, it was revealed that Afghan soldiers who served alongside British forces during the war in Afghanistan are struggling to find work in the UK due to strict eligibility rules that prevent them from joining the British Army for five years after their arrival.
Many of these highly skilled former soldiers, including a former major general, are now working in low-wage jobs such as cleaners or delivery drivers. Current rules require them to wait until they have been in the UK for five years and obtained citizenship, a process that is criticised as unnecessarily restrictive given their proven commitment and skills.
Such resettlement challenges also continue amidst broader geopolitical framings.
Pakistan‘s crackdown on undocumented refugees has put more than 800,000 Afghans at risk of deportation. Earlier this year, Amnesty International strongly condemned the newly elected Pakistani government’s decision to expand and accelerate the deportation of Afghan refugees, including Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. This move, part of Pakistan’s ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan,’ was said to violate international refugee and human rights laws, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they face serious threats.
The British High Commission in Islamabad is issuing assurance letters to prevent further wrongful deportations.
*Not his real name