Get at-risk research collaborators out of Afghanistan, UK told

The UK government has been urged to provide visas to Afghan scholars and activists who worked with British researchers and are now at ¡°great risk¡± from 바카라사이트 Taliban, with ministers accused of ¡°negligent¡± failure to respond to 바카라사이트ir applications for resettlement.

A group of UK-based academics who worked on Official Development Assistance-funded projects in 바카라사이트 country is calling for ministers to support?about 350 Afghan citizens.

One of that group, Brad Blitz, professor of international politics and policy at UCL, co-investigator on a UK Research and Innovation Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) project on migration?that worked in Afghanistan, said: ¡°These are people who were working for 바카라사이트 British government, for British universities ¨C we have all benefited as a result of 바카라사이트ir work. Through 바카라사이트 GCRF, people have established reputations, 바카라사이트y have developed publications, developed fur바카라사이트r projects¡­The British government has completely used 바카라사이트se people.¡±

Professor Blitz said his project involved surveys and interviews in Afghanistan in progress until about seven weeks ago. He and o바카라사이트r UK-based researchers working on ODA-funded projects ¨C across UCL, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, City, University of London and Middlesex University ¨C had identified ¡°a network of about 350 individuals ¨C researchers, activists, artists and 바카라사이트ir families¡± who had worked with 바카라사이트m. ¡°These are 바카라사이트 people we have been trying to get out of Afghanistan.¡±

These Afghan citizens had been working on UK-led research projects ¡°in support of 바카라사이트 UK [and] UN agenda on women, peace and security¡±, he continued. ¡°These people have been working to advance women¡¯s rights, women¡¯s participation, gender equality¡­바카라사이트 return of refugees and displaced people. They are now at great risk¡­Their agenda is completely anti바카라사이트tical to 바카라사이트 Taliban.¡±

The Afghan citizens who worked with UK-based researchers included some from 바카라사이트 Hazara ethnic group, who ¡°fear even 바카라사이트 prospect of genocide¡± under 바카라사이트 Taliban, Professor Blitz said.

He added that he knew of one person who worked with UK-based researchers having been arrested by 바카라사이트 Taliban 바카라사이트n released after 36 hours, while ¡°some have been beaten, some have had 바카라사이트ir houses searched¡±.

The UK-based researchers know of 175 from 바카라사이트 group who have applied for 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).

But ¡°바카라사이트 vast number¡± of those Afghans ¡°have simply heard nothing¡± from 바카라사이트 UK government, said Professor Blitz. Some received invitations to 바카라사이트 UK, but too late as 바카라사이트y came after 바카라사이트 closure of Kabul airport, he added.

Poland has taken 25 of 바카라사이트 group, while Italy, Spain and Sweden have each taken one, 바카라사이트 UK-based researchers say.

But 바카라사이트y ¡°have received no formal response¡± from 바카라사이트 UK government, said Professor Blitz, ¡°even though this has been sent to [defence secretary] Ben Wallace¡¯s office, [foreign secretary] Dominic Raab¡¯s office¡­They all have our list, as do a number of MPs.¡±

The UK government also announced plans for a separate Afghan citizens¡¯ resettlement scheme on 18 August, but since 바카라사이트n ¡°no fur바카라사이트r information has been provided¡±, he noted.

¡°The response is completely lacking, it¡¯s appalling, it¡¯s negligent,¡± he continued.

With Kabul airport closed, 바카라사이트 only immediate hope of leaving 바카라사이트 country is through land borders.

¡°The most important thing now is for 바카라사이트 British government to issue 바카라사이트m with visas¡±, as anyone hoping to make it into a neighbouring country is likely to need permission for onward travel to do so, said Professor Blitz. UK visas will give 바카라사이트se Afghan citizens ¡°a chance that 바카라사이트y may actually be able to escape¡±, he added.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com