It’s been one year since Kabul fell. We are appalled by the human tragedy that continues to unfold in Afghanistan.
Before the Taliban took control of Kabul, we had closed all our programmes in the country, as well as our office. This did not end our responsibility to those who worked for us in extremely difficult circumstances. Our former colleagues were the face of the UK in Afghanistan and the risks associated with their public-facing roles are gravely evident.
The Afghanistan relocation schemes are run by the UK Government. All but one of our former employees who applied, and a significant number of our former contractors, have relocated to the UK with their families.
Many former contractors are still in Afghanistan. They have told us that they are living in increasingly desperate circumstances as the situation in the country continues to deteriorate. We are incredibly concerned for them and for their families’ welfare and well-being, and we continue to be in direct contact with them on a regular basis.
Many are eligible to be considered for the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) Pathway 3 launched by the UK government, and we have been encouraging them to apply. The deadline for this is 15 August 2022. We have been in active discussions with senior contacts within the UK government to ensure the earliest possible consideration of our former colleagues’ ACRS applications.
We place the highest value on those who worked for us throughout the last 20 years in Afghanistan. The commitment and dedication of our former colleagues is never forgotten, and we will continue to do everything in our power to help them.