UK Opinions Split on Moral Duty to Afghan Refugees

As the consequences of the controversial military withdrawal from Afghanistan continue to develop, pressure on the countries involved to protect Afghans from the Taliban is only growing. In the UK, the government has announced plans for a resettlement scheme for up to 20,000 refugees spread over five years with priority given to women, children, and religious minorities.

Despite criticism from some quarters that the plan doesn't go far enough, prime minister Johnson said the UK owed “a debt of gratitude to all those who have worked with us to make Afghanistan a better place over the last 20 years” adding “many of them, particularly women, are now in urgent need of our help”. A new survey by YouGov however, shows that public opinion is somewhat split on whether the UK has a moral obligation to offer asylum to Afghan refugees, as this infographic shows.