District Council pledges to support Afghan allies

Newark and Sherwood District Council has pledged to relocate two families who are in immediate danger after serving with the UK government and British troops in Afghanistan.

As forces withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years, thousands of locally employed staff have been left vulnerable of being targeted by the Taliban as traitors. Many British soldiers were given support by these locals, with many acting as interpreters or translators, and their lives are now at immediate risk.

 The Ministry of Defence has accelerated calls for local authorities across the country to offer support as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates every day. It hopes to relocate all families that are known to the military for providing vital services by September.

 Newark and Sherwood District Council has overseen a number of refugee schemes in recent years. Working with a number of partners in local communities, the District Council offers resettlement support and its integration schemes have been a success.

 Councillor David Lloyd, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Many locally employed staff in Afghanistan are now in real danger having provided vital support to our military over the last 20 years.

 “These people have acted heroically as our allies, despite the risk to themselves and their families, and it is only right that we do all we can to keep them safe and recognise their service and contribution to our country. I know the residents of Newark and Sherwood will help us in welcoming them when they arrive.”

 In 2013, the Secretary of State for Defence announced the National Security Council’s agreed scheme to support eligible locally employed staff (LES) who have been or will be made redundant as a direct consequence of the UK’s military drawdown from Afghanistan. This was expanded in 2018 to include a relocation offering. For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan-locally-employed-staff-ex-gratia-scheme/afghanistan-locally-employed-staff-ex-gratia-scheme-further-information-on-eligibility-criteria-and-offer-details.