Kabul urges Europe to stop forced deportations of Afghans

Government asks for deportations to be halted for three months

Conflicts 10:20 12.07.2021
Afghanistan has urged European countries to stop forced deportations of Afghan migrants for the next three months, as security forces battle violence caused by a Taliban offensive.
 
The UN said on Sunday that the rising conflict was also causing "more suffering" across the battle-racked country as it urged for continuous financial aid.
 
Afghanistan is facing a crisis as the insurgents gain territory across the countryside, stretching government forces and leading to a new wave of internally displaced families, complicated by a renewed outbreak of Covid-19.
 
"The escalation of violence by the Taliban terrorist group 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 on Saturday.
 
"The government's decision emphasises that host countries should refrain from forcibly deporting Afghan refugees ... for the next three months."
 
The ministry said that the return of Afghans from Europe was worrying.
 
There were almost 2.5 million registered refugees from Afghanistan in 2018. It was the second-largest refugee population in the world, the UN refugee agency said.
 
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 this year, aided by the UN, only six came from outside Pakistan and Iran, the UN agency said.
 
Afghans make up a large share of EU asylum seekers, with 44,190 first-time applications last year, out of a total of 416,600, the EU's statistics agency Eurostat says.
 
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi last month said Europe should brace for a new flow 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 revenge from the Taliban.
 
Afghanistan recorded more than 1,000 cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, the Health Ministry said.
 
Almost 135,000 cases and more than 5,700 deaths have been reported since the pandemic began, with the country relying on donations from the international community to vaccinate its population.
 
Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan, said the country was also facing increased difficulties with the growing conflict since the Taliban launched their offensive.
 
"Pre-existing humanitarian needs are further exacerbated," Mr Alakbarov said.
 
He said that at least half of the country's 33.5 million people needed humanitarian assistance.
 
"Escalation of military activities and escalation of conflict and war is causing more suffering," Mr Alakbarov said.
 
He said that so far this year 25 humanitarian aid workers were killed while delivering relief to the needy.
 
Mr Alakbarov called for continued financial support to meet Afghanistan's humanitarian assistance, adding that $450 million had come so far as global donations after an appeal for $1.3 billion for 2021.
 
"The needs are so much greater," he said.

 

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Russia accuses Ukrainian military chief of ordering downing of war prisoner plane
22:10 05.07.2025
Türkiye supports firefighting operations in Syria’s Latakia
22:00 05.07.2025
UNRWA calls for immediate fuel delivery to Israel-blockaded Gaza before shutdown of basic services
21:45 05.07.2025
Pashinyan: Armenia needs new constitution
21:20 05.07.2025
UN chief condemns Russia's recent 'series of large-scale' attacks on Ukraine
21:00 05.07.2025
Kazakh servicemen arrive in Azerbaijan to participate in Tarlan - 2025 exercise
20:45 05.07.2025
Erdogan: US has crucial role in achieving ceasefire in Gaza
20:20 05.07.2025
Building collapse in Pakistan kills 15
19:45 05.07.2025
Turkish FM Fidan to attend 17th BRICS Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro
19:30 05.07.2025
Australia pledges $283M for green energy project by explosives maker
19:10 05.07.2025
OPEC+ speeds up oil output hikes, adds 548,000 bpd in August
18:45 05.07.2025
Inter completes signing of Ange-Yoan Bonny from Parma
18:20 05.07.2025
Turkish president sees Zangazur corridor 'as part of the geoeconomic revolution'
18:00 05.07.2025
Turkish president urges Azerbaijan, Russia to show restrain amid tension
17:45 05.07.2025
China says war 'not a solution' to Iranian nuclear issue
17:15 05.07.2025
At least 18 people injured after fire alert on Ryanair plane in Majorca as passengers abandon jet & leap from wing
17:00 05.07.2025
Azerbaijani PM meets with UNESCAP executive secretary
16:45 05.07.2025
Lebanese president affirms coordination with Syria, warns against sectarian tensions
16:15 05.07.2025
21 killed in Israeli strikes on tents, school-turned-shelters in Gaza Strip
16:00 05.07.2025
Turkish construction sector takes on international projects worth $6.2B in first half of 2025
15:45 05.07.2025
Azerbaijani woman wrestler becomes European champion
15:30 05.07.2025
Mayor: Death toll in Russian attacks on Kyiv reached two
15:15 05.07.2025
Texas floods kill 24 people and leave many missing from girls' summer camp
14:45 05.07.2025
Conor McGregor has interest in White House fight after Trump's UFC idea
14:30 05.07.2025
Netanyahu era sees 40% surge in Israeli settlements in occupied West Bank
14:15 05.07.2025
Equatorial Guinea sues France in UN court to block sale of Paris mansion
14:00 05.07.2025
US president 'disappointed' over phone call with Putin
13:45 05.07.2025
Academy of Azerbaijan`s State Security Service hosts graduation ceremony
13:30 05.07.2025
Azerbaijan and Pakistan ink memo in Khankendi
13:15 05.07.2025
Trump says there could be Gaza deal next week
13:00 05.07.2025
First flight from Türkiye to Syria launched
12:45 05.07.2025
US marks its 249th anniversary of independence
12:30 05.07.2025
Azerbaijan's role in regional integration discussed at London conference
12:00 05.07.2025
Uzbek Minister: Mirziyoyev's visit to Azerbaijan crucial for dev’t of transport links
11:45 05.07.2025
Trump says US will start talks with China on TikTok deal this week
11:30 05.07.2025
Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif concludes visit to Azerbaijan
11:15 05.07.2025
Pakistani premier proposes low-emissions corridor at Economic Cooperation Organization summit
11:00 05.07.2025
Rwanda pledges to deliver on its part of US-brokered peace deal with DR Congo
10:45 05.07.2025
Hezbollah rejects calls to disarm before end of Israeli ‘aggression’ against Lebanon
10:30 05.07.2025
Trump says Gaza ceasefire deal may come next week after ‘positive’ Hamas response
10:15 05.07.2025
Hamısı