EU accused of ‘staggering neglect’ due to failure in resettling Afghans
According to a renowned refugee charity, many people who require permanent protection are still trapped in “prison-like” camps on Greek islands.
It has come to light that only 271 Afghans, or 0.1% of the 270,000 people classified as needing permanent protection, were placed in the EU in 2022.
The International Rescue Committee, a prominent charity, charged that EU officials had shown “staggering neglect” to Afghan migrants, many of whom were still stranded in “prison-like” conditions on Greek islands.
The International Rescue Committee argues in a damning assessment that EU member states have “consistently” broken their lawful resettlement pledges, leaving many Afghans who do cross EU borders “vulnerable” once more.
It alleges that just half of the refugees Italy agreed to accept have really arrived, despite a plan to resettle up to 1,000 Afghans per month being formed in Germany in 2021.
“This report highlights staggering neglect of Afghans by the member states of the European Union, which puts them at risk at every step of their journeys in search of protection,” International Rescue Committee director David Miliband said. While the well-intended intentions of some states to relocate Afghans to safer countries have encountered several setbacks and challenges, other nations have failed to make any commitments at all or to ensure proper protection and inclusion for the tiny part of Afghan refugees who manage to reach Europe.
According to him, the EU member states’ warm welcoming of the more than 8 million refugees from Ukraine has shown their ability to deliver.
There is just no justification for treating Afghans and other refugees forcibly displaced from their homes in a different manner, Miliband continued.
The IRC report focuses on the absence of safe refugee passageways but does not seem to take into account broader efforts made in nations like Germany to assist Afghans.
Picture courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright