COUNCILS in North Wales will accept a limited number of refugees from Afghanistan amidst ongoing turmoil in the country.

Some local authorities in the region have confirmed they will take part in the UK Resettlement Scheme for current or former “locally engaged staff” (LES) in Afghanistan who have supported British efforts in roles that could place them at risk of reprisals by Taliban forces following the withdrawal of US and British troops.

Boris Johnson has confirmed the UK will welcome 20,000 Afghan refugees over the coming years, with immediate priority given to LES under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (AFAP).

Denbighshire County Council and Conwy County Borough Council will each accept one family under the scheme, called the (AFAP), while Gwynedd Council has so far taken two individual refugees with more expected as resettlement applications are approved.

Councils in Wales are understood to be seeking political support before committing to the scheme, with concerns raised over the availability of accommodation and the resources required to provide support to refugees.

Local authorities will initially receive central government funding to cover four months of costs until long-term solutions for the resettling families are found. During that time they will be expected to provide accommodation; advice and assistance for employment, welfare benefits, housing, health and education; registration with GPs and jobcentres; assistance with school places for school-aged children; and cash support.

A Denbighshire council spokesperson said: “In November 2019, the Council’s Cabinet committed to supporting the UK Resettlement Scheme and under this scheme we have been able to offer accommodation to one family under the Afghan Relocation Assistance Programme.

“Families under this scheme are currently being accommodated by the Home Office until after their quarantine period.”

A spokesperson for Gwynedd Council said: “The Council has already housed two people who have fled Afghanistan, and we are also committed to housing more people.

“We have been working with the Home Office for some weeks, and are eager to do everything we can to provide support to those individuals who have had to leave their homeland, as we have done with Syrian refugees in the past.”

And an Isle of Anglesey Council spokesperson said: “Isle of Anglesey County Council support the scheme. At the moment, we hope to resettle one Afghan family. There have been no arrivals from Afghanistan yet.”

LES and their families will at first be granted limited leave to remain in the UK, with the opportunity to apply for permanent settlement.

Welsh local authorities currently support the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, which launched in 2015; last year Denbighshire agreed to provide refuge for five families per year for the next five years under the scheme, while Conwy has so far accepted a total of five families.

The UK Government has said it will continue to exclude LES applicants who were dismissed from service due to “serious security concerns” and who committed offences that constitute a crime under UK laws, including theft and drug abuse, adding that individuals dismissed for minor offences would be eligible.

Refugees arriving from Afghanistan will be required to quarantine in line with government requirements before they are able to continue with their resettlement process.