Number of Afghan refugees rehomed in Warrington revealed

This is part of a scheme that was promoted by the Government in 2021 and 2022 in response to the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan.

The scheme was designed to ensure that the most vulnerable in Afghanistan were able to escape from the regime change, such as women, children, and LGBTQ+ groups.

It has been said that the scheme also has a focus on helping groups that helped the UK during the war in Afghanistan.

A number of hotels in Warrington have been closed to the public in order to house asylum seekers - with Woolston's Holiday Inn being the latest (Image: Newsquest)

For the first time, the Home Office has revealed the number of refugees that have been rehomed in different towns and cities across the UK.

As of March 2023, there were 28 Afghan refugees registered as having been rehomed in Warrington.

Nationally, the schemes to rehome Afghan refugees - which seek to rehome refugees permanently - have seen 21,000 arrivals in the UK.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said: "Many people are left in a truly desperate situation, forcing them to embark on dangerous journeys in search of protection.

"That’s why we see so many Afghan refugees risking their lives crossing the Channel."

"We must see the Government scale up its efforts and offer protection to Afghan men, women and children who are vulnerable to persecution by the Taliban, as well as other people fleeing war and persecution in other parts of the world."

The Home Office's data also revealed the number of asylum seekers living in Warrington at the moment.

According to the figures, there were 234 people receiving asylum support in Warrington; there were also 20 unaccompanied children receiving the support, too, the Department for Education says.

Grappenhall's Fir Grove closed its doors to the public last year in order to accommodate asylum seekers (Image: Newsquest)

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those who genuinely need it through our safe and legal routes.

"We have welcomed over a hundred thousand people from Ukraine and Hong Kong, and 9,113 Afghans under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

"It is, however, wrong to set these two sets of vulnerable groups against each other.

"Each crisis situation requires a tailored response and our bespoke schemes for Ukrainians and Afghans have provided a route to safety to the UK for tens of thousands of vulnerable people."

The spokesperson added: "We remain committed to reducing overall net migration, while stopping the boats and delivering control of our borders, prioritising tackling abuse and preventing dangerous and illegal crossings."