A scathing report from the government's spending watchdog has exposed significant failures in the Ministry of Defence's handling of two key Afghan relocation schemes, leaving thousands who supported British forces in potential danger.
The National Audit Office (NAO) investigation found that the MoD's application process for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) was marred by lengthy delays and a profound lack of transparency. Many applicants were left in the dark for months, unable to get updates on the status of their cases.
Opaque Process and Decision-Making
According to the NAO, one of the most critical flaws was the absence of a clear, published rationale for why some applications were approved while others were rejected. This opaque decision-making process has caused immense distress and anxiety for applicants, who often feared for their lives while awaiting a verdict.
The report highlights that the eligibility criteria for the schemes were complex and difficult to navigate. Furthermore, the MoD failed to adequately assist applicants in understanding these requirements or in compiling the necessary evidence to support their claims.
Thousands Left in Limbo
The findings paint a picture of a system struggling under its own weight. The NAO noted that the MoD was overwhelmed by the volume of applications, leading to a massive backlog. At one point, thousands of cases were stuck in a queue, with staff lacking the capacity to process them in a timely manner.
This bureaucratic paralysis meant that many individuals who had worked alongside UK military and diplomatic personnel—such as interpreters, cultural advisors, and embassy staff—remained in Afghanistan long after the Taliban seized control in August 2021.
Call for Urgent Reform
The NAO report concludes with urgent recommendations for the Ministry of Defence. It calls for a complete overhaul of the application processing system, demanding greater transparency, clearer communication with applicants, and the establishment of a formal review process for challenged decisions.
The watchdog's findings are expected to intensify pressure on the government to account for its handling of the Afghan relocation effort and to swiftly address the shortcomings identified to prevent further endangerment of at-risk individuals.
