As government leaders prepare for the inevitable surge in refugees, the fall of Kabul has renewed divisions on immigration issues in European countries.
Thousands of Afghans, including President Ashraf GhaniAfter the Taliban took control of the capital, he rushed to the Kabul airport to try to escape Afghanistan. According to reports, three people were killed in the chaos at the airport.
lead Albania Kosovo said on Sunday that they had accepted the US request for temporary shelter for political refugees seeking to enter the United States.
There is concern that NATO members have not responded quickly enough to withdraw from Afghanistan Afghan citizens who may be retaliated. Taliban.
Albania is a southeastern European country with a population of 4.2 million, and it is receiving hundreds of refugees.
The country’s prime minister, Edi Rama, told the Guardian: “I was shocked to see people being left behind and hoping to at least give them a chance to breathe again.” “We know that we live under a dictatorship. What it’s like to be next, and what it’s like to be a foreigner seeking asylum somewhere. It’s about who we are; it’s an honor and a responsibility to do so.”
Rama said he could not understand “how richer countries would refuse”.
“This is in conflict with the values we preach,” he added. “Albania can’t solve the problem, but we don’t want to be a part of it either.”
In the past 10 days, about 30,000 Afghan citizens left the country every day, most of whom traveled to Iran or Pakistan by land.
“With economic uncertainty and instability Afghanistan Obviously, there will be an outflow, and Western countries need to act quickly,” said Christopher Hein, a professor of law and immigration policy at the University of Luis in Rome.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi stated on Monday that “Italy is committed to protecting Afghan citizens who cooperate with our mission.” The country is “working with European partners to resolve the crisis and protect human rights, especially those Afghan citizens who protect human rights.” . Women”.
On Sunday night, about 100 Italian nationals and embassy staff evacuated from Kabul and arrived at Fiumicino Airport in Rome on Monday afternoon. There are also several Afghan citizens on board who are cooperating with the Italian army. “The Taliban are looking for people from house to house. Thousands of lives are in danger,” an Afghan military doctor told Italian media.
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told the “Evening Post” on Sunday that the top priority is to evacuate Italian citizens, but “we cannot consider giving up the Afghan people after 20 years.”
Italian Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese stated that the country is planning to withdraw Afghan interpreters and medical personnel who assist the Italian army. “We will do everything we can to ensure that they arrive in Italy safely,” she said.
As the far-right coalition is an important partner of Draghi’s extensive coalition government, it remains to be seen whether Italy can successfully accept more Afghan citizens. The party leader Matteo Salvini (Matteo Salvini) Blocked immigration rescue ship During his 14 months as Minister of the Interior, Tweet“In Kabul, after the cowardly escape of Western countries, the banners of Islamic killers and Taliban killers have returned. Terrorism, violence, fear and illegal immigration are coming.”
French Defense Minister Florence Parly said on Monday that the country will first evacuate its nationals and Afghan colleagues from Kabul to a base in Dubai.
“We plan to have the first rotation between now and the end of this Monday,” Pali said, adding that the evacuees are French nationals who remain in Kabul, “but there are also people we protect.”
Major German newspapers and broadcasters urged Chancellor Angela Merkel to implement an emergency visa program to receive Afghan journalists who have worked for them for the past 20 years. “The lives of these freelancers are now in extreme danger,” the dpa news agency said.
Austria said on Sunday that it will continue its policy of expelling rejected Afghan asylum seekers. The country is one of six EU countries that insisted on their right to expel failed Afghan asylum seekers last week.
Three of these countries-Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands -Since then changed direction, saying that they will suspend deportation. France also suspended the expulsion of rejected Afghan asylum seekers.
Austrian Minister of the Interior Karl Nehammer described the ban on deportation as “a pull factor for illegal immigration that will only encourage the rash and cynical business of smugglers and organized crime.”
He added: “Those who need protection must be protected in the country closest to their country of origin. As Minister of the Interior, I am mainly responsible for the people living in Austria. Most importantly, this means long-term protection of social peace and the welfare state. .”
A survey conducted by the Austrian newspaper Osterreich found that 90% of Austrians support the tough stance of their government.
EU countries are worried about a repeat of 2015 and early 2016, when more than 1 million immigrants arrived in Europe, most of them from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, triggering political turmoil within the member states and the entire group. The response was to reach an agreement with Turkey and Libya to stop the flow.
“But now they need to open their eyes and take responsibility,” Hein said. “They need to quickly organize Afghan citizens-including many women working in Afghanistan with European countries-to be airlifted as soon as possible.”
