Australia is set to grant asylum to 16,500 other Afghan citizens over four years.

The federal budget has been approved to accommodate another 16,500 Afghan citizens.

According to the Guardian, the government will spend 666$ million over four years to implement the new plan.

The Guardian reports that the government of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, under internal pressure, has finally agreed to grant asylum to 16,500 other Afghan citizens.

Australia federal budget fund 16,500 more places to welcome new Afghan refugees over four year period.

$665.9 million is allocated for this effort. this 16,500 visas are seperate from 15000 Visas For Afghans through Humanitarian and Family stream program that was announced earlier. Australia will bring a total number of 31,500 over the next four years.

Each year Australia will welcome 4000 afghans on top of 13750 places available under australia’s humanitarian program.

Simultaneously, the government will spend another $136.7 million in 2022/23 on regurbishing and replacing customs vessels and maintaining maritime patrols to prevent people from making the risky voyage by boat.

Source: Euro international News  and the guardian.