Up to 16 Afghan refugee households fleeing from their war torn country will be resettled in West Dunbartonshire over the coming year.
The local authority has agreed to extend its Afghan Locally Employed Staff (ALES) programme from its original offer to resettle three households and house four families every 12 weeks on a rolling basis until service capacity is reached.
This new level of support reflects the scale and urgency of the crisis since the council’s first offer was made. This would mean the council would annually welcome 16 additional households into West Dunbartonshire over the next year.
Local authorities participating in the Afghan resettlement schemes receive funding of £20,520 per person. No decisions have been made on any specific area of West Dunbartonshire for resettlement but officers will consider all options.
An update was brought before full council on Wednesday.
Housing convenor councillor Diane Docherty said: “These women and men put themselves at great risk to keep British service people safe while deployed in Afghanistan.
“Now we have the opportunity to help keep them and their families safe. I am happy to move these recommendations.”
West Dunbartonshire Council previously supported Syrian refugees and hope this new programme will be just as effective with Afghans welcomed into the community.
Labour councillor Martin Rooney: “I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendations in the report on humanitarian grounds alone.
“We have people fleeing from what for them will be an oppressive regime where their safety and lives will be in absolute jeopardy.
“They stood by the British army while they were out there all those years and it is right that we stand by them. We have a tradition of welcoming refugees in West Dunbartonshire.
“Our Syrian refugee programme was a huge success where people made sure they were welcomed into the community.”
The local authority was also praised for taking positive action and helping people in need.
Councillor Jim Bollan said: “It is good to see the council on the front foot again, giving shelter to refugees who are fleeing violence and fear.
“We previously helped Syrian refugees who settled greatly in West Dunbartonshire and local citizens welcomed them with open arms.
“I am quite certain that they will do the same with Afghanistan refugees. This is about people’s lives and their future.”
