THE official British support scheme for refugees from Afghanistan is called Operation Warm Welcome. It is a title that reflects the Government’s sense of obligation to those fleeing the country after the triumph of the Taliban.
But no such generosity of spirit has been accorded to passengers arriving in recent days at Heathrow Airport.
In place of a warm welcome, international travellers have been greeted by paralyzing chaos at border checks, characterized by lengthy queues and five-hour waits for clearance.
Amid mounting anxiety and frustration in Terminal 5 on Friday evening, one pregnant woman in the tightly packed crowd fainted, while another arrival tweeted that it was “like something from the Soviet Union”.
In the febrile atmosphere generated by this shambles, the Home Office and Heathrow’s management have heaped blame on the UK Border Force for putting too few officers on duty during what was bound to be one of the busiest weekends of the year.
In response, defenders of the Border Force bleat about the tremendous pressures, particularly those caused by Covid-19 travel rules and the deepening migration crisis in the Channel.
This Heathrow border farce is a disastrous advertisement for our country at a time when we are trying to open up for business and encourage tourism.
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Esta historia es de la edición September 06, 2021 de Daily Express.
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