{"id":830,"date":"2021-08-19T12:59:06","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T12:59:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jointpublicissues.org.uk\/?p=10821"},"modified":"2021-08-19T12:59:06","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T12:59:06","slug":"why-the-uk-is-setting-itself-up-to-struggle-in-response-to-conflict-in-afghanistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/standrewsurcrustington.org.uk\/?p=830","title":{"rendered":"Why the UK is setting itself up to struggle in response to conflict in Afghanistan"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Yesterday, MPs returned from their recess to the UK parliament to debate the UK\u2019s action in Afghanistan. There was widespread criticism from both sides of the house, and questions were raised about the UK\u2019s course of action over the last week.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

The government have also confirmed that a scheme to receive 20,000
\nrefugees from Afghanistan to the UK will take place over a four year period. In
\nthe immediate aftermath of this moment, action must be taken quickly to ensure
\nthat communities in Afghanistan are provided with emergency resources and
\nrelief. <\/p>\n

However, policies implemented by the UK Government over the
\nlast year leave the UK in a very limited position to offer the help required. <\/p>\n

The confirmed cut to the international aid and development
\nbudget to 0.5% GDPR already leaves the UK severely constrained. Although recognition
\nthat education for women and girls is crucial in dialogue around the conflict
\nin Afghanistan, the government have stripped the budget of the resources. Now,
\nwe risk finding ourselves unable to deliver the support many would suggest we
\nare obliged to offer to Afghan communities. Without flexibility in the budget,
\nwe could be forced to make decisions between offering aid here or elsewhere. If
\nthe situation in Afghanistan transforms into one where long term development
\ninvestment is needed for vulnerable people, the UK may not be in a position to
\nplay it\u2019s part.  <\/p>\n

The UK is also limited in the support it can offer at home.
\nThe government is offering 20,000 spaces to refugees from Afghanistan over five
\nyears. A targeted numerical commitment is welcome, and goes further than the
\ngovernment has done in the past by setting a measurable goal for our response.
\nHowever, it is still limited. 5,000 spaces offered in the next year will likely
\nbarely skim the surface of the need for sanctuary of so many caught up in the
\nconflict. These targets will limit the number of people able to come through
\nestablished and safe routes to seek asylum in the UK. Instead, those remaining
\nwill be pushed to flee conflict and persecution via irregular and dangerous
\nroutes. This could well be the fate of thousands of Afghan people seeking
\nasylum in the UK who do not get access to the limited schemes on offer by the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n

This comes at the same time as the introduction of the
\nGovernment\u2019s Nationality and Borders Bill, currently making its way through parliament.
\nThese policies implement a \u2018two-tier\u2019 system for people seeking asylum in the
\nUK. Those who travel to the UK via irregular routes will be subject to limited
\naccess to resources, family reunion and rights once they reach the UK, and will
\nonly be offered a temporary protection status. They will be at more risk of
\nbeing treated with criminal status, and the UK government will seek to return
\nmany to a third safe country they may have travelled through to reach the UK. <\/p>\n

Instead of taking the chance to bring people to the UK
\nsafely and through managed routes, the UK government are opting to limit
\nopportunities for safe arrival and greeting them in the UK not with  welcome, but hostility. <\/p>\n

Policies adopted by the UK government over the past year,
\naltering the way the UK treats people seeking asylum and slashing international
\naid, are setting us up to fail in this crucial moment. Without the financial
\nresource and without an infrastructure to welcome asylum seekers safely and
\nwith compassion, we will fail to provide the response that is warranted.<\/p>\n

As these policies are being put to the test in the face of an international crisis, it is crucial that the government now reassesses these policies in the wake of the crisis in Afghanistan. Reassurance must be offered  that the UK\u2019s international development budget will return to 0.7% at the next spending review. As the Nationality and Borders Bill makes its way through parliament, MPs and Peers must take the opportunity to challenge and amend the damaging policies it contains. <\/p>\n

You can read more about the Nationality and Borders Bill here. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you would like to
\nkeep in touch with JPIT on the Nationality and Borders Bill and receive
\ncampaign updates, email us on <\/em>enquiries@jointpublicissues.org.uk<\/em><\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

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Yesterday, MPs returned from their recess to the UK parliament to debate the UK\u2019s action in Afghanistan. There was widespread criticism from both sides of the house, and questions were raised about the UK\u2019s course of action over the last … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-urc-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t