We can’t cope: Afghans’ plea to Europe

Afghanistan has urged European countries to halt forced deportations of Afghan refugees for the next three months, as security forces battle a wave of Taliban violence.

Afghan children fill water from a tap installed along a road in the capital Kabul. The UN says at least half the nation’s population needs humanitarian help. Picture: AFP

Afghanistan has urged European countries to halt forced deportations of Afghan refugees for the next three months, as security forces battle a wave of violence ­triggered by a dizzying Taliban ­offensive.

The UN said on Sunday (Monday AEST) that the rising conflict was also causing “more suffering” across the violence-wracked country as it urged for continuous financial aid.

Afghanistan is facing a crisis as the insurgents snap up territory across the countryside, stretching government forces and leading to a fresh wave of internally displaced families, complicated by a renewed outbreak of Covid-19.

“The escalation of violence by the Taliban terrorist group in the country and the spread of the third wave of (Covid-19) have caused a great deal of economic and social unrest, creating concerns and challenges for the people,” ­Afghanistan’s refugees and repatriation ministry said.

“The government’s decision emphasises that host countries should refrain from forcibly ­deporting Afghan refugees … for the next three months.”

There were almost 2.5 million registered refugees from Afghanistan in 2018 – the second-largest refugee population in the world, according to the UN refugee agency.

The vast majority are in neighbouring Pakistan, followed by Iran, and Europe. While more than 570 Afghan refugees voluntarily returned to the country between January and March, aided by the UN, just six came from outside Pakistan and Iran, according to UN data.

Afghans make up a sizeable share of EU asylum-seekers, with 44,190 first-time applications last year, out of 416,600, according to Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi last month said Europe should brace for a fresh inflow of migrants from Afghanistan after foreign forces leave the country.

This year, several EU countries agreed to offer asylum to Afghans who worked with foreign troops and are at risk of retaliatory ­attacks from the Taliban.

Afghanistan recorded more than 1000 cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, the health ministry said. Almost 135,000 cases and more than 5700 deaths have been reported since the pandemic began, with the country reliant on donations from the international community to vaccinate its population.

UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Ramiz ­Alakbarov said the country was also facing increased difficulties with the growing conflict since the ­Taliban launched its offensive.

“Pre-existing humanitarian needs are further exacerbated,” Mr Alakbarov said, adding that at least half of the country’s 33.5 million people needed humanitarian help. The “escalation of military ­activities and escalation of conflict and war were causing more suffering” apart from drought and Covid concerns.

Mr Alakbarov said that so far this year 25 humanitarian aid workers had been killed while ­delivering relief items to the needy.

He called for continued financial support to meet Afghanistan’s humanitarian assistance, adding that $US450m ($602m) had come so far as global donations following an appeal of $US1.3bn made for 2021. “The needs are so much greater, and continued assistance is needed,” Mr Alakbarov said.

The US and its allies are due to end their military mission in ­Afghanistan at the end of August, even as the Taliban says it now controls 85 per cent of the country – a claim that could not be independently verified and is disputed by the government.

The Islamic fundamentalist group’s rapid gains in recent weeks have raised fears about the security of the capital and its airport, with NATO keen to secure a vital exit route to the outside world for foreign diplomats and aid workers.

Afghan authorities said on Sunday that they had installed an anti-missile system at Kabul airport to counter incoming rockets.

The Taliban has regularly launched rockets and mortars at government forces, with Islamic State carrying out similar strikes on the capital last year. ISIS also claimed responsibility for a rocket attack this year at Bagram Air Base, the biggest US military facility in the country, which was handed over to Afghan forces last week.

AFP