A COUNCIL has confirmed it will offer support to an additional four refugee families who have fled crisis in Afghanistan.

Denbighshire County Council cabinet members have agreed to extend its role in the UK Government's Afghan Relocation Assistance Policy (ARAP) to provide support for a total of five refugee families.

The scheme offers relocation to current and former locally employed staff in Afghanistan who may be at risk of reprisals from the Taliban due to their assistance of British forces.

Denbighshire council said the number of refugee families could be increased to 10 depending on a central government funding commitment for next year.

It comes after the council had agreed to accept one refugee family fleeing the Middle Eastern country amidst the withdrawal of British and US troops last month.

About 8,000 refugees are currently being accommodated in the UK, the majority of which qualified for ARAP resettlement. The UK Government said it will accept a total of 20,000 refugees under the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) over the coming years.

Local authorities in Conwy and Gwynedd have so far committed to one refugee family, while Gwynedd has accepted two individual refugees with more expected in the coming weeks.

Denbighshire council said temporary accommodation is currently being sourced from the private rented sector in the county.

“The thoughts of the Council are with all those affected by the recent tragic events in Afghanistan," said Bobby Feeley, Denbighshire cabinet member for well-being and independence.

“We will do everything we can to put in place appropriate housing and a warm welcome so our new neighbours will become important parts of our community, as many have done so before.

“Each local authority in Wales is playing its part in supporting the Afghan Relocation Assistance Programme, and, while this commitment is in relation to Denbighshire, we are working regionally and at a strategic level to share knowledge and support as appropriate.

“One family from Afghanistan has already been accepted and settled in Denbighshire over the last two weeks.

“Accommodation is currently being sourced across the county, initially in the private rented sector, in line with the current refugee programme, and we have had a number of offers of accommodation already.”

Cllr Feeley updated council members and the public of the council’s response to the events in Afghanistan at a full council meeting on Tuesday, September 7.

The Home Office has announced a one-year funding programme to enable local authorities to provide support for education and employment and in addition they have indicated an ongoing commitment to support housing costs.