BRADFORD is the district which has welcomed the most Syrian refugees in the UK, as a similar resettlement programme for refugees from Afghanistan gets underway.

The Government is preparing to resettle 20,000 people fleeing Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover of the war-torn country.

It follows a similar scheme held for refugees fleeing the civil war in Syria since 2014, which was praised as a success by the charity Refugee Council, who are calling on the Government to provide enough support to welcome Afghan nationals.

During the Syrian crisis, 597 people were resettled in Bradford through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme by the end of March, figures from the House of Commons Library show.

This accounts for 2.7 per cent of all those resetlled nationally, and more than any other local authority in the country.

Syrian refugees acocunt for a tiny fraction of the distirct's population which numbers more than 500,000 people.

As the scheme to resettle Afghan refugees begins, those fleeing the Taliban will be given the chance to set up life in the UK permanently, with women and girls prioritised along with other people most at risk of human rights abuses.

Enver Solomon, chief executive at the Refugee Council, said: "Councils need to be able to make plans with the assurance that all the resources they require are provided by central government.

"The Syrian scheme was a success because of long-term careful planning and collaboration with local areas and agencies.

"It will be critical for the same to happen given the challenges councils are facing as a result of the pandemic and overall financial pressures."

He urged the Government to allow those with relatives already in the UK to safely join them, and suspend the return of anyone refused asylum back to Afghanistan.

People with ongoing claims for asylum receive financial assistance and accommodation through what is known as Section 95 support, as do those whose application was unsuccessful, but who had children in their household.

The HoC Library figures show 44,800 people were receiving Section 95 support across the UK at the end of March, and of them, 1,037 were in Bradford.

Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, said the ACRS is a good first step, but the "horrific scenes" in Kabul show just how fast situations can change.

He urged the Government to double its target to resettle 10,000 Afghans in the first year, as many will attempt to reach safety through less regular routes.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Our country has a proud history of offering sanctuary to those in need.

"We will not abandon people who have been forced to flee their homes and are now living in terror of what might come next."