Hundreds of Afghan refugees who have been living in Manchester since fleeing the Taliban's takeover of the country nearly two years ago are now facing uncertainty as the hotels where they are being housed are set to close. The government announced last week that refugees who arrived under the Afghan Resettlement Programme will no longer be allowed to live in hotels.
It comes after the veterans minister Johnny Mercer said the £1m daily cost of housing around 8,000 Afghan refugees across the country - half of them children - is unsustainable. There are currently 740 Afghan refugees who arrived in Manchester under the programme, with more across the city-region.
All Afghan refugees still living in hotels - including three in Manchester which are accommodating a mix of families and individuals - will be written to at the end of April and given 'at least three months' notice' to leave. The government has announced a £35m package of 'new funding' to support those affected, while also expanding the Local Authority Housing Fund by £250m to help councils source homes for Afghan refugees in 'bridging accommodation'.
