Vulnerable Afghan refugees are still struggling to seek asylum – countries like the UK must step up to help

Governments that intervened in the country need to help build a safe and effective mechanism and pathway inside and outside of Afghanistan for those that need to get out, writes Bel Trew

Afghan people wait at Torkham border crossing to enter Pakistan (Anadolu Agency/Getty)

Every room in the building housed a whole Afghan family, and every family had a heartbreaking story of fear and loss. This was a safe house near Islamabad for Afghan refugees from the persecuted Hazara Shia community. At the moment, it is one of several places in Pakistan sheltering vulnerable people – from musicians to persecuted minorities – who have fled Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s leaders have said, however, they cannot and will not take in any more refugees and so these refugees are stuck in a kind of limbo. They do not appear to be able to claim asylum in Pakistan, they cannot legalise their status, they cannot leave Pakistan and they fear death going home.

Countries who intervened in Afghanistan, including the UK, have to step up and work on providing resettlement places for vulnerable Afghans, even those who have not worked directly with their embassies, military or organisations. They also need to help build a safe and effective mechanism and pathway inside and outside of Afghanistan for those that need to get out.

Inside Afghanistan there is no obvious way to claim asylum or apply for visas if you don’t have an institution or government body backing you – driving incredibly vulnerable people into the hands of smugglers or worse.

For those who do cross the border to places like Pakistan, there appears to be nothing in place to legalise their status when they get there. Every Afghan refugee I spoke to said bodies like the United Nations refugee agency weren’t helping. Meanwhile Pakistani top officials, including the foreign minister, told me they are already housing some 3 million Afghan refugees from decades of previous wars without any international support and so cannot take any more people because they do not have the capacity.

There needs to be an urgent global discussion about how to build a comprehensive set-up for Afghans who need to seek asylum. It cannot be left up to individual or haphazard efforts. We have a responsibility.

Yours,

Bel Trew

Middle East Correspondent