We want to thank everyone from across Greenwich who has helped to welcome refugees from Afghanistan.

While many will only call Greenwich home temporarily, nearly 700 refugees have been housed in quarantine conditions in our borough, and our community has stepped up to support them.

The Council has provided for these people with help from our community in collecting and distributing donations, amidst a vacuum of leadership from the government in which there has been a complete lack of support in the form of interpreters, welfare or funding.

Greenwich Labour have been clear that our borough will welcome refugees, as part of our borough’s proud history in supporting those fleeing war and persecution.

But most of the refugees in quarantine conditions in Greenwich will be relocated across the country to bridging locations, another area in which the government has provided a lack of support.

Councillor Denise Scott-McDonald, Greenwich Labour’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Good Growth, said:

“Make no mistake, this is a national scandal. The lack of leadership we have seen is reprehensible and having been through hell, the government continues to fail Afghan refugees. The lack of basic leadership from the government is putting people’s lives at risk.”

While the government fails to take responsibility, we’ll continue to do everything we can to support these refugees while they seek sanctuary in Greenwich.