Merton Council is calling on the Government to accelerate efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Council leader Mark Allison says he has been working closely with other Labour run London councils on their response to the crisis.

He says that Merton council has a history of opening its doors to refugees, as it did with Syria in 2015.

Mr Allison says “We stand ready to support and are awaiting guidance” on the Government’s resettlement programme.