The UK has "let down" numerous Afghan refugees, leaving some stranded in hotels for up to two years and now facing potential eviction, according to a think tank's assessment.

More in Common has emphasized the necessity to learn from these shortcomings to offer better support to future refugees.

This revelation coincides with the anniversary of the UK's evacuation initiative and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban on August 15, 2021.

Minister Johnny Mercer acknowledged the presence of "challenges" but expressed his determination to ensure the success of Afghan programs.

The Operation Pitting operation saw the UK evacuate around 15,000 individuals from Kabul, including British citizens and those who had collaborated with the UK in Afghanistan, along with their families.

Those without accommodation were placed in government-funded hotels. Initially intended as temporary lodging, by the end of March, nearly 8,800 Afghans still resided in hotels.

While the government has set an end-of-August deadline for relocating Afghans out of hotels, councils have warned that some are at risk of homelessness, as they struggle to find alternative housing.

More in Common, an organization formed following the assassination of Labour MP Jo Cox, surveyed 132 Afghan individuals in the UK.

They reported breakdowns in communication with local authorities and the Home Office regarding housing, recurring rejections of rental applications, and provision of unsuitable homes, sometimes located hundreds of miles away.

One instance involved a refugee residing in temporary housing in Bristol, where they had family, being offered permanent housing in Northern Ireland.

Afghan Refugees Moved from Hotels Face Homelessness "I've Spent Two Years Living in a Hotel" - Refugee Amir Hussain Ibrahimi was evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK two years ago and has been residing in a hotel in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, since then.

The 24-year-old, a former journalist and photographer in Afghanistan, recounted his experience: "Initially, when I arrived at the hotel, we were given many promises - the government assured us that we would stay for three, four, or five months." However, this temporary situation extended much further.

"It's quite challenging because you're uncertain about the next step in your life," he explained. He expressed that he sometimes yearned for a sense of home, and mentioned moments of depression since arriving in the UK.

Although Mr. Ibrahimi is relieved that the council finally secured him a permanent residence, following rejections from over 10 landlords, he noted that many other families are still struggling to find homes.

While acknowledging challenges faced by other Afghan refugees, Mr. Ibrahimi believes that the government must do more to provide assistance.

Amir Hussain Ibrahimi now works as a marketing and production assistant in East London Cabinet Office Minister Mr. Mercer, who served in Afghanistan during his military tenure and oversees the resettlement program, recognized that "things could have been handled differently" and acknowledged that Afghan families had been residing in hotels "for far too long."

In an interview with PA news agency, he mentioned that the end-of-August deadline for hotel residents to move was "a contentious decision," but it was made "with compassion in mind."

Mr. Mercer revealed that, in the past week, 440 Afghans had been matched with homes. He attributed this progress to the introduction of a firm deadline.

The Home Office stated that it had allocated £285 million to aid the relocation of Afghans to permanent housing.

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association acknowledged councils' strenuous efforts to support Afghan families but pointed to housing shortages as a challenge.

The spokesperson noted that the delay in funding and guidance from the government contributed to significant uncertainty.

Sir Laurie Bristow, the former UK ambassador to Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, emphasized the UK's obligation to those who collaborated with the UK in Afghanistan.

He stated, "There are individuals in Afghanistan and refugee camps who supported us and worked alongside us, now facing danger as a result." He emphasized the UK's responsibility to these individuals, who had played crucial roles in the UK's endeavors in Afghanistan. Photo by davric, Wikimedia commons.