'I knew I had to leave' - Refugee families came to Manchester desperate for help - now they face an uncertain future

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Afghan refugees have been asked by the Home Office to leave Manchester at the end of August - and many now fear an uncertain future.

Khalid Mohammed, a 42-year-old man, fled Afghanistan when the Taliban regained power. As a father-of-two he knew conditions under the highly repressive regime would soon become intolerable. "I knew I had to leave," said the 42-year-old. “I have a wife and two daughters, all of whom are highly educated individuals who would not be able to continue life as they did under the Taliban.” READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Khalid and his family came to the UK through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, seeking asylum legally through the UK’s channels.

They eventually found their way to Manchester, where they were put up in a hotel with dozens of other refugees. But now they face yet more uncertainty.

In March, the Home Office announced that all Afghan refugees will be asked to leave their hotels by the end of August. According to Manchester City Council, there are currently 740 Afghan refugees living in Manchester hotels.