Dorset Council response to Afghan refugee situation

Dorset Council is considering the authority’s response to the current Afghan refugee situation.

Councillors are expected to be briefed about what the likely choices may be in the coming days, following a meeting of senior council officials this week.

Dorset Council is already taking part in the scheme for Afghan’s who had been working with UK armed forces and civilian contractors through the South West Migration service.

Liaison meetings have also been held with the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and the Royal Marines base at Hamworthy.

Dorset Council’s Lib Dem leader, Cllr Nick Ireland, has asked for the council’s response to the crisis, suggesting in his question that the authority might like to consider the possible use of empty council buildings for refugee accommodation, if needed.

The council’s previous position, over Syrian refugees, has been to try and find suitable homes in locations where there can be support for their education, health and welfare.

In July 2019 the council pledged to take a minimum of three refugee children a year, for the next ten years, provided the Government continues to offer financial support.

The charity, Safe Passage, persuaded the Council to make the promise at its monthly meeting with a resolution proposed by the now chairman of the authority, Cllr Val Pothecary.

It was said at the time that the county was already host to around twenty young refugees.

Organiser of the Dorset group, Bernard Sullivan, spoke to the meeting about the need for Dorset to take its share of refugees.

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• dorset county council
• afghan citizens resettlement scheme
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