The capture of the Taliban in Kabul on August 15 prompted hundreds of Afghans to rush to Hamid Karzai International Airport in an attempt to flee the imminent government of the Islamic militant organization. Several images show a sea of people running on the asphalt of the airport, with some people desperate enough to tie themselves to the wheels of a plane taking off from Kabul.
This situation has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of Afghan nationals and some nations have announced their policy of hosting Afghan refugees. Here’s a look at what some of these policies are.
Refugees around the world
As of 2020, there are about 2.8 million Afghan refugees abroad. According to UNHCR, the largest number of refugees living abroad belongs to Syria, with 6.8 million.
A refugee is defined as a person who has been forced to “flee his country because of persecution, war or violence. A refugee is afraid of persecution on the grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Chances are they won’t be able to come home or be afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are the main causes of refugees fleeing their countries, “according to UNHCR.
68% of people displaced across borders belong to five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.
Overall, by the end of 2020, 82.4 million people were displaced worldwide due to persecution, conflict, violence and human rights violations. In terms of intake, Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees (mostly from Syria), with more than 4 million.
Which countries will take Afghan refugees?
US: On August 2, the U.S. Department of State announced the designation of Priority 2 (P-2) that grants access to the U.S. Refugee Admission Program (USRAP) to certain Afghan citizens and their eligible family members.
“The goal of the United States remains a peaceful and secure Afghanistan. However, in light of rising levels of Taliban violence, the U.S. government is working to provide certain Afghans, including those who worked with the United States, with the opportunity for refugee resettlement in the United States. ” , the State Department said in a statement.
The United States is expected to host more than 10,000 Afghan nationals, which will mainly include people who helped the government.
UK: On August 18, the UK government announced that those who have been forced to flee their homes or face threats of persecution from the Taliban will be offered a route to settle. -is definitely in the UK. The government will resettle 5,000 Afghan nationals who are at risk due to the current crisis during the first year of the resettlement plan, which will give priority to women, girls and religious minorities. Overall, the UK intends to resettle 20,000 Afghan nationals through this scheme.
Canada: Canada has also pledged to host 20,000 Afghan nationals.
Europe: Most European countries are wary of welcoming Afghan refugees for fear of repeating the 2015 migrant crisis, when the body image of three-year-old Syrian boy Alan Kurdi is lying face down on a beach near Bodrum, Turkey. it became a symbol of the refugee crisis and the risk that many refugees took in trying to cross into the West by water routes.
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UNHCR estimated that more than 9 lakh refugees and migrants arrived on European shores in 2015 and approximately 3,500 of them lost their lives during the trip. About 75% of incoming people fled conflict or persecution in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to Statista, Austria, France and Sweden are other important destinations for Afghan refugees in Europe. According to a European Union report, around 7,000 Afghans received permanent or temporary legal status in the EU in the first quarter of 2021. Of these, at least 2,200 were in Greece, 1,800 in France, 1,000 in Germany and about 700 in Italy.
“In general, Afghan refugees had a 62% chance of gaining recognition in the EU, although many are only granted the right of temporary residence,” Statista notes.
India: India does not have a separate status for refugees and so far has dealt with refugees on a case by case basis.
India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 Refugee Status Protocol. In 2011, the Union government distributed to all states and territories of the Union a standard operating procedure for dealing with foreign nationals who claimed to be refugees.
Given the current situation in Afghanistan, India has introduced a new category of electronic visa so that Afghan nationals can expedite their applications for entry into the country. These visas will only be valid for six months and it is not clear what will happen once this period has elapsed.