Amid Taliban takeover, UK govt will take in 20,000 Afghan refugees over the next few years

Following the Taliban's takeover in Afghanistan, the UK government has announced a new settlement scheme under which they will take in up to 20,000 Afghan refugees.

The plan is similar to a scheme put in place for Syrians in 2014, when the country was going through a civil war.

By the end of the first year, around 5,000 refugees will be eligible to resettle in the UK, with women, girls and others in need getting priority.

Those who have fled Afghanistan will be able to apply for re-settlement from any other third country, the UK Home Office has confirmed.

Also watch: 60 nations including US, UK & Australia call on Taliban to allow safe passage for Afghans

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is slated to address MPs on Wednesday on the crisis in Afghanistan, said: “We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who have worked with us to make Afghanistan a better place over the last 20 years."

“Many of them, particularly women, are now in urgent need of our help. I am proud that the UK has been able to put in place this route to help them and their families live safely in the UK,” Johnson added.

However, some of the opposition parties have criticised the settlement scheme. Questions are being raised as to why the number is similar, given Afghanistan’s population is double that of Syria and the UK has been an active participant in the conflict.