Mr. Jones, you work for a non-governmental organization, and until recently you lived in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. When did you go abroad?
last Friday. When the security situation in Afghanistan became more and more unstable, I left Kabul and went to Bangladesh via Dubai.
Are you surprised by the rapid development? Taliban?
The rate of decline in counties and provincial capitals across the country surprised me. The escalation of the conflict and the deterioration of the security situation have led to a large number of internally displaced persons in the country. More than 500,000 people have been displaced or displaced this year alone. All of this has led to catastrophic humanitarian situations in cities and towns across the country, especially as Afghanistan is struggling to respond to pre-existing humanitarian needs such as drought, COVID-19, and food insecurity.
When did you receive the order to leave Afghanistan? By whom?
I was asked to leave this country earlier last week. So there are a few days to prepare everything. The notification comes from my employer. As uncertainty and instability increase, and some embassies issue warnings urging their citizens to leave immediately, there is a risk of staying in the country and being unable to leave the country. Coupled with the possible suspension of commercial flights to Kabul, the decision to leave Afghanistan temporarily is clear.
Can you describe your last few days in this country? The atmosphere of Kabul? And your personal impression?
The atmosphere in Kabul is mixed with uncertainty, fear and confusion. Before I left, the street was relatively quiet, although shops and street vendors were still open, but they looked normal. One notable difference is that a few days before I left, a large number of internally displaced persons flooded into Kabul. Due to the conflict, more than 10,000 families arrived in cities such as Mazar-e-Sharif and Kunduz. Due to lack of support, many people sleep and gather in public places such as parks. Humanitarian organizations have begun to provide food, shelter and cash to these groups.
You are a developer. How many Afghans are working on your project—how much do you know about their fate?
The vast majority of humanitarian workers in Afghanistan are domestic workers, and only a few have emigrated. In keeping with the motto of many humanitarian organizations, “Stay and Help”, national staff have shown great perseverance, strength and willingness to continue to implement life-saving projects across the country. Some employees choose to travel to countries such as the United States or neighboring countries such as Pakistan or Iran through special visa programs. Some NGOs can support these processes, but the requirements of each country are different, and the situation and politics of each country are constantly changing.
Do you have a personal relationship with them? Can you describe how you handled this situation?
Many Afghans I know have responded to this situation with extraordinary strength, resilience and kindness. Despite the uncertainty ahead, many people continue to live their lives as best they can and continue to work to help those who are less fortunate than them. Of course, a certain level of confusion, fear, and insecurity still exists-this feeling is absent. As people decide the next step in their lives, doubts will stay in the coming days and weeks.
Have you had contact with women and girls in Kabul? What do you think of the hypothesis that the Taliban may be more moderate than they were 20 years ago?
Women play a vital role in many aspects of Afghan society, whether in health care, education, the private sector or the humanitarian sector. It is now necessary to continuously monitor the situation of Afghan women to ensure that they do not lose much of the progress made in the past two decades. Donors and the international community have a responsibility to continue to support non-governmental organizations and humanitarian programs that target women to ensure that early or forced marriages and domestic violence are alleviated and that they can continue to obtain basic rights.
What must Western countries such as the United States and Germany do?
Over the past 20 years, many countries’ commitments have brought significant progress to Afghanistan’s development and growth. In terms of gender equality, education, health care, and the development of a vibrant civil society, Afghanistan has benefited from humanitarian and development assistance from international donors. Therefore, at this critical juncture, it is important for countries not to leave Afghanistan, but to continue to participate and provide continuous and flexible means to meet the country’s humanitarian needs.
Do you think you can come back soon?
Can’t say yet. It will take some time for humanitarian agencies to resume their projects because they must obtain permits and negotiate security and access. I really want to go back to Afghanistan. This country has so many beautiful scenery, rich culture, fascinating history and friendly people. I hope to set foot on Kabul again soon.
