The South African Department of Foreign Affairs (DIRCO) has stated that the country is not in a position to host Afghan refugees who fled the country after the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, 2021.
According to DIRCO, the country is already home to dozens of refugees and cannot risk taking another batch due to its economic challenges.
“The South African government is unfortunately unable to meet such a request. South Africa is already hosting a substantial number of refugees and is responsible for meeting their needs. Most of them are already receiving social assistance and free medical care”.
DIRCO
DIRCO noted that South Africa is to temporarily host Afghan refugees in neighboring Pakistan before they reach a final destination. Meanwhile, South Africa, the continent’s largest industrial power, already hosts millions of migrants.
Countries hosting Afghan refugees
Uganda and Colombia are among developing countries offering temporary asylum to hundreds of evacuees from Afghanistan. These refugees are in transit to the US and other western nations.
Currently, Uganda is temporarily hosting 2,000 Afghan refugees who fled the country. The Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated it accepted the refugees after a request from the U.S.
Meanwhile, President Yoweri Museveni “has expressed Uganda’s readiness to provide assistance” to the refugees. The statement cited Uganda’s “long history and tradition of hosting” refugees as one of the reasons.
An official of the High Committee for Refugees (UNHCR) in the country stated that the UN agency had not been involved in the discussions. However, the official said the UNHCR is “ready to support” any arrival. This move has drawn mixed reactions from lawmakers especially those from the opposition.
Uganda is one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries. Currently, about 1.5 million refugees and asylum seekers are living there, the majority from South Sudan and the DRC.
Other countries interested in hosting refugees
Meanwhile, Albania and Kosovo also expressed readiness to take in hundreds of Afghans. This includes women leaders, government officials and others potentially threatened by the Taliban. Still at the request of the United States.
Also, Rwanda, Mexico and Costa Rica among others have joined in volunteering to take people in. Somaliland, which already hosts Yemeni refugees, is in discussions with the US to join in the efforts, sources say.
Humanitarian agencies have in recent times highlight the lack of funding for refugee assistance in Afghanistan which has approximately 44 million people.
On Thursday, August 26, 2021, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched a $24 million urgent appeal to assist people displaced in Afghanistan. This is in response to the growing humanitarian situation in the country.
Just Tuesday, the Taliban celebrated their victory in Afghanistan after the departure of the last American soldiers. This ended a devastating 20-year war triggered by the intervention of an international coalition led by the United States. The Coalition was to oust the Taliban from power in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks on American soil.
The return of the Islamists to power forced Westerners to evacuate their nationals.
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