Thousands of Afghans who were put at risk after their personal data was leaked by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) remain stranded more than six months after the scandal, figures obtained by The Independent reveal. Around 400 individuals who supported British efforts in Afghanistan, along with 1,900 family members, are still waiting to be brought to safety, trapped in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries.
The data breach, which affected 18,700 applicants to Afghan resettlement schemes, occurred in 2022 but was only discovered in summer 2023 after a portion of a spreadsheet was shared on social media. A gagging order was used to cover up the breach until it was lifted in July 2024. As of last July, the MoD said it needed to evacuate around 600 Afghans and 2,400 family members eligible due to their work and the breach, with a further 2,400 eligible solely because of the data loss.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated in July that "we will honour the 600 invitations already made," but campaigners warn that families lack financial resources for visas and transport. An independent caseworker known as Person A, who alerted the government to the breach, said the UK had withdrawn evacuation support, leaving families "trapped." One former Afghan soldier reported his brother, approved for relocation over a year ago, remains unable to leave due to financial constraints and danger from the Taliban.
Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tan Dhesi stressed that "every month counts" for those entitled to resettlement. The MoD maintains it is committed to bringing people out and that the breach did not increase risk. Meanwhile, the government announced on Thursday that 884 decisions affecting former Afghan special forces have been overturned, granting them a path to resettlement, though the speed of evacuation remains unclear. Daniel Carey of Deighton Pierce Glynn noted that three-quarters of these approvals were made over a year ago, highlighting a very slow process.
