Harrogate charity warns support for Afghanistan needs to be long term
They are urging people to not forget about them once the Afghan crisis stops making the headlines
A Harrogate charity's warned refugees coming from Afghanistan will need long term support to help them integrate into societies and that it shouldn't just stop when the headlines do.
Millions are fleeing the war torn country as the Taliban take over major cities, including capital Kabul.
Three Afghan families are already here in the district with another to arrive by the end of the week.
Harrogate District of Sanctuary have supported families from Syria in recent years through the Government's resettlement scheme, working alongside North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council.
Dennis Brickles is one of the trustees. He said: "We are dealing with traumatised families who have seen some horrendous things and have lived under enormous pressure and stress.
"Those kind of things can seriously damage people and they need very careful, long term support.
"This is just the first group of families. I'm sure there will be more so it's the long term support we need from the public; whether that's in six months or a year's time because we will still need it.
"You see the news and think 'Oh we must go out and do something immediately' but our charity's view is that the help isn't so much immediate. The issues in Afghanistan are just going to exacerbate an ongoing refugee crisis.
"But when it stops showing in the headlines that's when we'll need support."
Once refugees arrive into Harrogate district they're shown around their new local area, helping them get to grips with public transport, buy familiar food and find their local library.
They're offered housing support to help them to understand their tenancy and addressing any problems as well as opening a bank account and accessing benefits.
They are also given employment support, access to health services, English language classes and specialist counselling if needed.
In a statement from Harrogate District of Sanctuary earlier this week, they said: "The UK government must immediately identify more safe routes to sanctuary for Afghans, including those already on the move. Across the UK CoS groups and awarded sanctuary institutions like libraries, universities, and schools work daily to support those fleeing war and persecution. This reflects a wider commitment to welcoming and including those forcibly displaced. The people the UK have welcomed have contributed to society at all levels.
"We can’t ignore our humanitarian duty to the people of Afghanistan."
But issues have risen in other parts of the country where large numbers of refugees have been placed in less affluent areas as the housing costs are lower.
90 Afghan refugees were placed in Scarborough in the last week, yet only four families have been placed here in Harrogate district.
David Brickles, added: "The largest numbers of refugees coming through the Government schemes are being placed in some of the poorest districts in the country. Therefore in these places they are inundated but yet in the more affluent areas they have taken far fewer, when it is possible for them to be placed in areas like Harrogate."
If you'd like to find out about how you can support refugees in our area or to find out more about Harrogate District of Sanctuary, click here.