The UK government declared a new resettlement plan to receive more than 20,000 Afghan refugees.
The plan will give priority to women, girls and minorities considered ‘most at risk’ under the Taliban rule.
About 5,000 Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in the UK in its first year.
“The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme will save lives,” Home Secretary Priti Patel said.
“I want to ensure that as a nation we do everything possible to provide support to the most vulnerable fleeing Afghanistan. So they can start a new life in safety in the UK,” he added.
Similar Plan in Germany
Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany is scheduled to evacuate 10,000 Afghan refugees from Afghanistan.
The number include 2,500 Afghan support staff as well as human rights activists.
Lawyers and others who are at risk if they remain in the country will also be included.
Merkel called on other countries bordering Afghanistan to support those fleeing from the country now.
Kabul Collapse
This came a the Taliban has claimed victory after taking over the capital of Kabul last weekend.
Fighters have seized the presidential palace and the government has collapsed.
Moreover, President Ashraf Ghani fled abroad.
This came a few days after foreign forces started withdrawing from the country.
The last German troops left Afghanistan earlier last month, bringing to an end almost two decades of involvement in the country.
The US military also started preparing its withdrawal from Afghanistan by September 2021, a deadline set by US President Joe Biden to end America’s longest war.
Kabul has earlier urged all European countries in early July to halt forced deportations for the next three months.
However, the renewed violence foiled any hope to restore calm in the country.
