A British Armed Forces interpreter has spoken out about fleeing Afghanistan with his wife and four children after being targeted by Taliban soldiers.
For years Abdul Jalalzai, 33, worked closely with UK soldiers to provide a vital link between the forces and non-English speaking Afghan people. He also worked at Lashkar Gah Police Training Centre, in Helmand province, providing a base for the British Army to help recruit and train police officers.
But now he fears he will never be able to return to his family home in Khost province, or visit his family members who remain there, while the Taliban controls the country of his birth. He added that if they found him there, he would be killed.
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Abdul, who is now living in Byker, said: "If I had not left, things would have been very bad."
"I am one of four brothers and in Afghanistan the Taliban still come to their houses to ask about me. If I had stayed in Afghanistan, my family would not be safe. The Taliban would have come for me. If I was there, I would be killed."
Abdul's life and the lives of his wife and four children were thrown into chaos when the US and UK began withdrawing from Afghanistan and the Taliban began to establish control.
He added: "We could not have known what would happen in Afghanistan, but when things started to change last year, I would get a lot of phone calls from people threatening me, saying they knew I'd worked for the British Forces, it was no longer safe for us."
Abdul and his family are settling into a new life on Tyneside after applying for resettlement via ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) scheme, created to help Afghans who worked for the British Government and Army.
The Jalalzai family is integrating well into their new community and enjoying life in Newcastle. And Your Homes Newcastle has provided them with a home, English classes, school places and offered Abdul the chance to learn work skills via its employability service, supporting him with training, helping him with interviews and getting him ready for employment.
Abdul said: "My family and I are so relieved that we found a home. My children and wife are learning English, and I am learning new skills to make furniture at the Palatine factory (a mattress production factory operated as a not-for-profit supported employer), which is helping me a lot."
"I cannot go back to Afghanistan to see my family there until things change in the country, but thankfully we have our new home here in Newcastle, where we have been welcomed and helped to settle. Things are very good, and I look forward to the future."
This week is World Refugee Week, designated by the United Nations to recognise and honour refugees around the globe. The majority of UK refugees arrived from Syria in recent years, but the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the UK's withdrawal from Afghanistan has led to an increase in displaced people, with the UK hitting a 20-year high for asylum applications.
Newcastle is a "City of Sanctuary" and Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) has been providing support to refugees since 2004 and works closely with other local and regional organisations to help people to resettle in the city. YHN provides support to Afghans settling in the city under the ARAPand ACRS (Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme).
Under the two schemes, the housing organisation has welcomed and settled 12 Afghan families in YHN properties since July 2021. All families receive a three-year support package from YHN’s Support and Progression Team.
People receive guidance and direct support around health, education, language and settling into life in the North East.
Tina Drury, YHN Managing Director, said: "Often when families arrive here, they are fleeing a horrendous situation, and our number one priority is to ensure they feel safe, secure and that help is on hand.
"It is more than simply putting a roof over people's heads. It's helping them create a fulfilling and happy life, successfully integrating into communities and helping many learn skills that will give them a leg-up when searching for a job. We organise events, lessons and even take families for days out to take in Newcastle to help them orientate themselves in their new home city.
"Newcastle was one of the first core cities to accept Syrian nationals fleeing the war in their home country in 2016," added Tina. "Newcastle is recognised by the City of Sanctuary programme and, along with our colleagues at Newcastle City Council, we work hard to make Newcastle a welcoming place for all.
"There is a misconception among a small minority of people that refugees arrive here for the benefits and rent-free homes, but that could not be further from the truth. Most want to work, integrate and start a new life, fully appreciating the opportunity to start a new life."
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