Afghan refugees in Hertsmere thank thousands of donors

Donations poured in after it emerged around nearly 200 Afghans, including children, were staying at two hotels in Hertsmere following the Taliban takeover.

At Bushey United Synagogue, so many supplies came in, it reached the stage where volunteers became overwhelmed.

Hundreds of bags with clothes, toiletries, sanitary products and other essentials were given to around 42 Afghan families, most with young children, who have been placed locally.

It is understood there are around 124 individuals across the two hotels, with a third hotel in Dacorum to be mobilised to support even more people arriving today (August 25).

Among those collecting donated items was a father-of-four from Jalalabad, who had been evacuated with his wife and children because he worked as an interpreter for the British forces in Afghanistan.

Some of the donations handed in at Bushey United Synagogue

The 36-year-old, who is not being named to protect his identity, told the PA news agency: “It has been a tough situation for us to leave the country.

“We have a lot of friends stuck in Afghanistan, a lot of them are interpreters, and they are still stuck there.

“I hope the (UK) Government can help these people because the Taliban will find them and kill them.”

The 36-year-old said he fears for those with links to the British and for his family, who are still currently in Afghanistan.

“The Taliban are searching home by home for people who worked with the British forces,” he said.

“My family, my parents, are stuck in Afghanistan. And because the Taliban know everything, they have intelligence, my family are really in a bad situation there.

“They are afraid to leave their home.”

The father-of-four said he was “really thankful” to those making donations in order to help him and his children since their arrival in the UK.

He added: “My message to all the British people is that they have helped, and we really, really appreciate it.”

Some of the donations handed in at Bushey United Synagogue

Items donated to the newly arrived families included children’s scooters, pushchairs and bikes, while there were stacks of shoes and clothes ready to be picked up by those in need on Monday evening.

On the amount of donations delivered to the synagogue, Mr Brass said: “It has been just bedlam.

“The Bushey community, from all religions, all parts of Bushey, have been so welcoming – it’s just lovely.”

Rabbi Elchonon Feldman, of the Bushey United Synagogue in Hertfordshire, sent a message to worshippers on a private Facebook page on Thursday night.

Donations then packed out the venue’s car park by Sunday lunchtime, with anything left over set to go to other charities.

The British Red Cross have stepped in to provide initial ‘crisis’ support until the end of August with the help of some local voluntary sector provision.

As for now, there have been enough essential items issued so the council is asking that people refrain from donating further items at this time.