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

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.”

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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. That figure includes 115 families and 52 individuals. But by August 23 they will be evicted and forced to find a new home.

The ruling comes after veteran's minister, Johnny Mercer, said that it costs £1m a day to house 8,000 Afghan refugees across the country. Mr Mercer believes it’s unsustainable to continue with this form of accommodation.

The Minister also added that the refugees will not be offered a second option after the first accommodation offer is provided to the refugees.

The Home Office said previously the hotels were only a temporary option. But, according to volunteers at Care4Calais, nationally very few refugees have been