UK blames 'technical glitch' after Afghan helpline calls get diverted to washing machine firm

The United Kingdom govt has blamed a “technical glitch” after calls to an emergency Afghanistan helpline were redirected to a washing machine repair company. 

The UK Home Office was inundated with complaints as people were left on hold for hours or unable to get through at all.

Also watch: 'Goodbye motherland': Afghan filmmaker Roya Heydari's heartbreaking post goes viral

The helpline was launched by the Home Office last week for “vulnerable” non-British nationals in Afghanistan.

The Home Office acknowledged that some calls had mistakenly been redirected to a washing machine repair business but insisted the “technical glitch” had been resolved “swiftly”.