ROME: There is a new life in the dream village of Roccaraso, a village known for its panoramic views and the ski hills near the east of Rome. This city of only 1,600 permanent residents dates back to 975 AD, but was wiped off the map by German troops hoping to use their point of view to attack Rome during World War II. He now has a new incarnation with hundreds of Italian Afghan aides evacuated from Kabul settling at the military base that emerged from the ruins of World War II. A temporary mosque punctuates cultural change.
But as idyllic as it may be, the peaceful place has already received contempt from right-wing politicians in Italy who say they will not tolerate a wave of Muslim immigrants flooding Christian Europe in large part, as they said in full period of the war in Syria in 2015 when more than a million people from Syria, Afghanistan and sub-Saharan Africa poured into European countries. Those arriving with military flights must be accepted, but it is already incredibly clear that anyone else will not be welcome. Matteo Salvini, of the popular Italian right, Lega, tweeted on Wednesday: “Humanitarian corridors for women and children in danger certainly do. The doors open to thousands of men, including potential terrorists, absolutely not.” .
The first of the Afghan translators and medical staff — men and women alike — working with the Italian defense contingent in Afghanistan arrived in late June as part of Italy’s now-abandoned tier plan to remove in small groups the most vulnerable collaborators. The rest, who arrive after being rushed into Italian military flights through Kuwait this week after the fall of Kabul on Sunday, will be taken there in quarantine against COVID before settling permanently. The Italian government is hyperprotective, fearing that even in the relative security of Europe, those who collaborated in the 20-year war led by the United States could be the target of assassins among Italy’s important migrant community. “We don’t take risks,” base commander Alessandro Pantaleo said. “They need to be protected even on Italian soil.”
Once Italy has welcomed those it has considered a priority to protect, they will have to pivot to deal with those who were not invited. Between 2008 and 2016, more than 100,000 unaccompanied Afghan children arrived in Europe, making Afghanistan the largest country of origin for children under the age of 18 during this period, which is notable in note that the time period coincides with the war in Syria, which sent countless refugees to the continent. .
This also happened before Afghanistan collapsed into its current chaos and before Donald Trump set the date for the withdrawal of American troops. Most of those who came then joined the family of Germany and Sweden, but many used Greece and Italy as points of entry, traversing the well-trodden paths of migrants cared for by smugglers who often ended up in maritime rescues for part of NGOs landing in Italian ports.
“Europe alone cannot bear the consequences of the fall of Afghanistan.”
– French President Emmanuel Macron
The trail of migrants from Afghanistan to Europe is long and winding. Most have to travel thousands of miles by land through Iran to Turkey, where they are all less pushed into the sea. The EU’s Eurostat agency estimates that tens of thousands of Afghans who did not cut back on evacuations, or who did so but were unable to reach Kabul airport from other parts of the country , now plan their escape.
EU leaders also know this and have warned that those who do not come with military evacuation flights will not be welcome, even if they should be. As packed flights left Kabul this week, European leaders began subtle messages, applauding organized evacuation flights and warning that anyone who was not better off would not find the flight. their own way.
Elections in Germany to replace Chancellor Angela Merkel, the open-door policy of Syrian refugees in 2015 garnered praise and contempt in equal doses, have complicated the political scene without any politician wanting to say anything that will haunt them once again elected. Other European countries have also released the Not Welcome rug. Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi warned this week that Greek borders are closed to Afghans. “We cannot have millions of people leaving Afghanistan and joining the European Union,” he said. “And certainly not through Greece.” Smugglers are also clearly aware.
In July, as Afghanistan rushed to the brink of the inevitable disaster that has engulfed it, 200 Afghan migrants were detained in the Aegean Sea heading straight for Italy, completely bypassing Greece. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has called on his European counterparts to join them soon to help distribute those who will inevitably find their way to the Italian coast. There is no way Italy can close its porous borders, as years of irregular migration have shown.
Austria has also said it will not take in any Afghan migrants. French President Emmanuel Macron was more subtle, but the message was clear. “Europe alone cannot bear the consequences of the fall of Afghanistan,” he said, calling on so-called “transit countries” such as Iran and Turkey, which already host more refugees than any other country in the world. – to take Afghans and urged them in Europe to “anticipate and protect themselves from a wave of migrants.”
On August 5, ten days before Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece and Germany signed a letter to the EU asking that whatever happens, they will be allowed repatriate — essentially send them back — any Afghan citizens who do not meet the asylum criteria. “The halt to the return sends the wrong signal and is likely to motivate even more Afghan citizens to leave their homes for the EU,” the letter said. It has not been mentioned or mentioned in the talks since the sending of asylum seekers to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. it is an unpleasant thought for many.
“The real crisis begins.”
Two weeks later, flights full of Afghans arrive directly in Europe. EU Commissioner Ylva Johannson said on Wednesday that the EU will not abandon those in immediate danger in Afghanistan, which could refer to anyone who does not support the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, but he also warned that Europe cannot accept the spoils of what is seen as the United States war. “We must not wait until people reach the external borders of the European Union,” he said. “This is not a solution.”
The U.S. State Department estimates that up to 60,000 Afghan citizens may qualify for evacuation, though it cannot guarantee any safe passage, leaving very few more than to find their own path to safety. .
On Thursday morning, another flight landed at Rome Fiumicino Airport, this time with a dozen collaborating women and their families who had worked at a hospital set up by the Italian government. At least two more flights are scheduled before the Italian government considers its obligation to those who helped them fulfilled. Other European countries are also expected to complete their official evacuations this week, their duty to those who helped them complete.
Then, without a doubt, the real crisis begins.