The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan has raised concerns about a possible humanitarian crisis, which could lead to large numbers of people trying to flee the country.
The organization took control of Kabul on Sunday after a rapid nationwide offensive, and promised not to seek retaliation against officials in the now-removed government led by Ashraf Ghani.
The Taliban also promised to amnesty former Afghan army soldiers, as well as contractors and translators working for international forces in the US-led coalition that invaded Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attack.
Quoting | World leaders react to Taliban takeover of Afghanistan
But Western capitals and human rights organizations worry that the resurgent Taliban may lead to mutual accusations. Some countries are organizing evacuation flights for Afghans working for their military and institutions.
Some countries provide shelters, while others call for stronger borders.
Iran sets up emergency tents, but urges repatriation when safe
The three provinces bordering Afghanistan are working to establish temporary shelters for the influx of Afghan refugees.
The head of border affairs at the Ministry of the Interior, Hossein Ghassemi, told the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency that any Afghan who enters Iran will be “deported once the situation improves.”
According to the UN Refugee Agency, Iran has a 900-kilometer border with Afghanistan and has hosted nearly 3.5 million Afghans.
Pakistan keeps refugees close to the border
In June of this year, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that if the Taliban controls it, Pakistan will block the border with Afghanistan.
Khan told the New York Times that Islamabad does not want its neighbours to flood in refugees again, because officials are struggling to deal with the estimated 3 million Afghan immigrants already living in Pakistan.
The border point seems to be still open to Afghans, but the Minister of Information Fawad Chowdhury told Time magazine that Islamabad is preparing a “comprehensive strategy” to isolate refugees in temporary camps near the border-a move to prevent large numbers of refugees. Refugees entered Pakistan further.
Turkey strengthens border wall construction
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Ankara will cooperate with Pakistan to help stabilize Afghanistan and prevent new refugee outflows.
The arrival of Afghan migrants on the eastern border of Turkey has become a hot political topic in the country, and Erdogan’s political opponents urged his government to take strong measures to stop the influx of refugees.
A Taliban fighter holding an RPG rocket, stands guard with others at the gate outside the Ministry of Interior in Kabul.
The government’s response is to step up the construction of the border wall with Iran in recent days.
Britain will host 20,000 people in a few years
UK Tuesday Announced plan Accept 20,000 Afghan refugees in the next few years as part of a new resettlement plan that will give priority to women, girls, and religious and other minorities.
The government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that in the first year of the plan, 5,000 people will be resettled in the UK. This compares with previous plans for Syrian refugees.
The plan is separate from efforts to grant interpreters and other staff working with British officials and the Afghan force the right to live in the UK.
Canada will resettle 20,000 people, giving priority to minorities including LGBTQ Afghans
Canada said last week that it will resettle more than 20,000 vulnerable Afghans.
“They will include women leaders, human rights advocates, journalists, LGBTQ people, members of persecuted religious groups, and translators who have resettled in Canada,” the Globe and Mail reported.
Thousands of Afghans rushed to Hamid Karzai International Airport as they tried to flee the Afghan capital Kabul.
In addition, a special immigration program will provide asylum for thousands of Afghans working for Canadian officials and troops during the Afghanistan operation, including interpreters, embassy staff and their families.
Switzerland refuses to admit large numbers of Afghans
Switzerland said on Wednesday that it will not accept large numbers of Afghan refugees arriving directly from the country, but will review asylum applications on a case-by-case basis.
The government stated that it will consider applying for humanitarian visas for people facing “direct, specific, serious and immediate life threatening threats.”
It added that the applicant must also have close and current ties with Switzerland.
The government is working to evacuate 230 local aid agency workers and their families from Afghanistan and bring them to Switzerland, including about 40 local employees and their relatives working for the Swiss Development Agency in Kabul.
Austria rejects refugees and supports deportation centers
Austria stated that it supports the establishment of on-site assistance and deportation centers in the war-torn neighbouring countries to deal with the possible influx of refugees.
Austrian Interior Minister Karl Nehammer said on Wednesday: “The goal must be to retain the majority of the people in the area.”
In addition, the EU must make further efforts in external border protection to resist illegal immigration that Nehammer deems possible.
Taliban members were seen near Hamid Karzai International Airport because thousands of Afghans were eager to flee the Afghan capital Kabul.
The minister rejected further “burdens” and explained that Austria is already home to the EU’s second largest Afghan community, with 44,000 Afghans.
Austria, under the leadership of conservative Sebastian Kurz, takes a hard line on immigration, disagreeing with the Prime Minister’s current coalition partner, the Green Party.
U.S. focuses on evacuation work
The United States has been accepting Afghan refugees during its 20 years of participation in the country, although this number has fallen sharply in recent years.
As of July 31, 2021, the United States has accepted only 494 Afghan refugees in the 2021 fiscal year ending September 30. A year ago, 604 people were resettled. In contrast, in 2016, in the last full fiscal year of former President Barack Obama, the United States accepted more than 2,700 Afghan refugees.
In early August, the United States expanded the Afghan refugee standards to include current and former employees of U.S. media organizations, aid and development agencies, and other relief groups funded by the United States.
However, there are still problems with the ability of the United States to process visas and refugee applications quickly.
Read | Afghan central bank governor flees, currency plummets during Taliban takeover
In addition, the time to evacuate is ticking. The United States plans to stick to its promise of complete withdrawal by August 31, and it is not clear who will control the airport after they leave.
Before the Taliban advance, US officials stated that 15,000 Afghans have moved to the United States under the special immigrant visa program. Approximately 18,000 applications are still being processed.
A man cried after seeing his fellow Afghans injured, at the airport in Kabul after Taliban fighters used gunfire, whips, sticks and sharp objects to maintain control of the crowd of thousands of Afghans who continued to wait outside the airport in Kabul. On the road.
U.S. officials stated that the evacuation will continue, and the three U.S. military bases are prepared to accommodate up to 22,000 evacuees. It also outsources some refugee operations to other countries (see below).
Uganda temporarily accepts 2,000 refugees at U.S. request
Uganda said on Tuesday that it had agreed to the request of the United States to accept 2,000 refugees from Afghanistan within three months, after which they would resettle elsewhere.
It is not clear when they began to arrive in the East African country, which has long welcomed people fleeing the conflict and currently hosts approximately 1.4 million refugees, most of them from South Sudan.
At the request of the United States, North Macedonia will temporarily accommodate 450 Afghans
The North Macedonian government said on Tuesday that it will temporarily accept 450 Afghans in the next few days after approving Washington’s acceptance request.
Timeline | Taliban occupy Kabul
The Afghan government said in a statement that refugees will be employees and family members of “Afghan staff in humanitarian and peacekeeping missions, activists of human rights organizations, journalists, translators, students and scholarship recipients.”
They are expected to “arrive in the country before this weekend, depending on the situation at Kabul Airport” and will stay until the US immigration visa documents are arranged.
Albania temporarily accommodates 300 refugees at U.S. request
The Albanian government has also accepted Washington’s request to temporarily accept Afghan refugees applying for visas to enter the United States.
A government source told the Associated Press on Tuesday that about 300 Afghans are expected to arrive in the country in the next 24 hours.
According to reports, they will be placed in student dormitories in the capital Tirana and some hotels in the nearby western port city of Durres.
Kosovo accepts refugees at U.S. request
The Kosovo government also said on Sunday that it intends to provide temporary shelters for refugees traveling to the United States.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that since mid-July, when the Taliban was resurrected, the two teams from Kosovo and the United States have been coordinating their efforts to provide asylum to Afghans considered at risk.
He did not provide more details about the exact number of people or the location of resettlement.
