NEW data from the Home Office has revealed how many Afghan refugees Carlisle has resettled. 

For the first time, the data shows Carlisle has resettled 48 Afghan citizens. 

The UK formally opened the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme in January 2022, and it was created for those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women’s rights, freedom of speech, and rule of law and also to protect those vulnerable. 

The first cohort of the resettlement scheme arrived in 2021, as a UK response to the Taliban taking control of the country. 

Speaking to the News & Star in August 2022, a group of Afghans who had been living in the country for a year spoke of the difference between the city and back home. 

"I walked out of the house and I saw no-one on the street, in this country there's no people out and about, everyone's at home or in offices, but in Afghanistan there's lots of people everywhere. There's also nowhere near as much crime and litter in Carlisle as there is in the bigger cities, I like that. 

"My kids like this place, they go to the park and with the help of Carlisle Refugee Action Group they've been given bikes to enjoy themselves, they get to watch TV and ride bikes, they may have these things back in Afghanistan but they couldn't enjoy it there because of the fighting," Mohammed said. 

The group consisted of former interpreters who served for the British Army, with the majority operating within the Helmand Province. 

"Our guys served well for the British Military and they really deserve to be here. But most of our interpretors are still in Afghanistan struggling to get their case heard and still await an answer," Abdul said at the time. 

The figures also show 198 Ukrainians were living in Carlisle area through the 'Homes for Ukraine' scheme, allowing UK citizens to sponsor and temporarily house refugees fleeing their homeland as war broke out between Russia.