A SOUTHEND hotel is housing almost 100 refugees who have fled Afghanistan in terror, it has been revealed.

The Park Inn by Radisson Palace, on Church Road, has taken in 90 Afghan refugees after they arrived earlier this month, the Echo understands.

The refugees have been allocated by the Home Office, with “no input” from Southend Council.

Health bosses are confident the refugees, who are already vaccinated against Covid-19, bring no risk of transmitting the virus.

Ian Gilbert, Labour leader of Southend Council, praised the hotel and staff for their “fantastic work.”

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He said: “As far as I’m aware, nowhere else in Southend has any refugees from Afghanistan.

“I haven’t been notified that any hotels or bed and breakfasts has anymore.

“It’s up to the Government about what happens next.

“People will be spread all over the place, moving forward. It could be in Southend, across the country, or abroad.

“There’s a real desire here to help as much as possible.

“The hotel and staff are doing a really great job.

“It’s fantastic to see.”

Krishna Ramkhelawon, director for public health for Southend, said: “The hotel has been advised by the Home Office that they can take up to 100 people.

“They had nowhere else to go.

“Our role is to manage their screening for health in a safe way.

“When someone moves onto our patch, it’s our responsibly that all prevention measures have taken place, not just for Covid. Most of them will be vaccinated once, and they will be getting their second vaccine too.

“The people we’ve received were all airlifted from Afghanistan.

“The Red Cross are also supporting them, and we’ve visited the hotel. I’ve currently got no concerns with Covid or public health.”

This comes as Afghanistan refugees will be refused council homes in Basildon.

Andrew Baggott, Tory leader of Basildon Council, insisted priorThe Park Inn is home to families after fleeing Afghanistan in terror N Housed - the hotel. Credit: Booking.com ity for council homes will only be given to Basildon’s residents.

Essex County Council is responsible for housing refugees outside Southend.

The government says it will resettle 5,000 refugees nationwide by the end of 2021 and 20,000 over five years.

A spokesman from the Home Office, said: “We are working urgently to ensure thousands of Afghans who were evacuated to the UK in exceptional circumstances receive the support they need to rebuild their lives, find work, pursue education, and integrate into their local communities.

“Due to the unprecedented demand, we have had to use temporary accommodation such as hotels to manage demands on the asylum estate. In addition, arrivals from Afghanistan must fulfil the mandatory quarantine period in the UK, and must stay in hotels to do this.

“We are very grateful to councils who are supporting these initiatives.”