KABUL — Following the collapse of the former government of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the political uncertainty, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that 500,000 Afghans will leave the country in the next four months.
“The agency today launched a Regional Refugee Preparedness and Response Plan which envisages a worst-case scenario of 500,000 Afghan refugees arriving in neighboring countries by the end of the year,” said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in a statement.
Until now, there had not been mass migration, but the evolving situation will lead to many people leaving the country, as per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
“While we have not seen large outflows of Afghans at this point, the situation inside Afghanistan has evolved more rapidly than anyone expected,” said Kelly T. Clements, Deputy High Commissioner.
“Refugee families that have faced so many challenges and obstacles, yet find ways to stand on their feet and live with dignity and courage, motivate all of us to do more for them,” tweeted Clements.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees asked neighboring countries to keep their borders open to Afghan refugees.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme, a food-assistance branch of the United Nations, has asked the United Nations to provide the organization with $12 million to provide food for in-need Afghans.
As per residents, the political uncertainty, unemployment, and security issues have forced them to leave the country.
“With a third of the population already facing food insecurity, according to the World Food Programme, needs are expected to increase going into winter.” said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the statement.
Habibullah’s family is one of the thousands of families waiting outside Kabul airport hoping to leave the country.
“I worked for four years with the foreigners, but now I am jobless,” Habibullah said.
“I heard rumors that the Taliban are searching houses for people who worked with foreigners and killing them. I have to leave the country.”
“Unemployment and security threats have forced us to leave the country to save our lives,” said Ezatullah, Habibullah’s son.
Several Afghan women say that they are facing an uncertain future. They say they have studied and worked hard but do not know what will happen to them.
“We accepted challenges and studied in Afghanistan. Now we do not know what will happen to us. I am worried about the future of girls in the country,” said Rahila, a Kabul resident.
(With inputs from ANI)
Edited by Saptak Datta and Ritaban Misra
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