GENEVA, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) called for a ban on the expulsions of Afghan migrants to their country of origin, including those who had previously rejected their application for asylum.
At the same time, the UN High Commission for Human Rights urged the international community to offer full support to Afghans facing “imminent risk” in their country under the new Taliban regime.
“Due to the rapidly deteriorating security and human rights situation in large parts of the country, in addition to the humanitarian emergency, UNHCR calls on States to end forced returns of Afghan nationals, even if it has been previously determined that they do not require international protection,” spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo declared during a press conference in Geneva.
“Since the beginning of the year, more than 550,000 Afghans have been displaced within the country due to conflict and insecurity,” Mantoo said.
After a quick offensive, the Taliban took control of Kabul on Sunday, which meant the return to power in Afghanistan after 20 years.
The return of the Taliban caused scenes of chaos and panic on Sunday and Monday (16), especially at the airport in Kabul, where thousands of people, desperate to leave the country, followed.
“The fear that gripped a large part of the population is profound and, given the past, totally understandable,” said High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesman Rupert Colville, who was at Mantoo’s side.
The Taliban’s promises of general amnesty to public officials and respect for women’s rights “must be fulfilled.” At the time, these statements were received with some skepticism,” Colville said.
The Taliban announcement was made earlier Tuesday.
“A general amnesty has been decreed for all (…) therefore they must resume their daily lives with complete confidence,” the Taliban declared in a statement.
Since taking over the country’s capital on Sunday, after a lightning offensive that allowed control of almost the entire territory in just ten days and caused the flight of President Ashraf Ghani, the Taliban have multiplied gestures intended to be reassuring.
This does not reassure Kabul residents, especially women. Afraid, most do not venture out onto the streets.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)) estimates that more than 18 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan, including 10 million children.
“UNICEF needs access to all these people and to obtain guarantees in terms of security for humanitarian workers,” said the Fund’s director of operations in Afghanistan, Mustapha Ben Messaoud. — NNN-AGENCIES
