Afghan protesters, including those who had worked with the US government and military, plan to continue peaceful protests to call for urgent resettlement, advocates say.
Afghan refugees held in the United
Arab Emirates for months since fleeing Afghanistan last year have protested for a third day, calling for resettlement in
the United States.
The demonstrations by hundreds of Afghans began on Wednesday at the centre where they are being housed as months of frustrations with what refugees say is a lack of communication over the resettlement process boiled over.
A protester told Reuters by phone more refugees had joined the demonstration on Friday, a day after a US official visited the centre and told them it could take years for applications to be processed.
The official added that many refugees, however, were
unlikely to ever be resettled in the US, according to
the protester.
Among the Afghans, advocates say, are those who had worked
with the US government and military.
There are also those who
had fought in the Afghan forces before the US-led withdrawal
last August when the Western-backed government collapsed and the Taliban took over the country.
READ MORE: Biden to redirect frozen Afghan assets to families of 9/11 victims
Lingering uncertainty
Ahmad Mohibi, an advocate who has helped Afghans evacuate and who is in contact with several refugees in the UAE, said the Afghans planned to continue peaceful protests.
The refugees, he said, were appreciative of the care the UAE
has provided them but were exasperated by the uncertainty over
how much longer they would have to remain at the Abu Dhabi centre.
The UAE agreed with Washington and other Western countries
last year to temporarily house Afghan nationals evacuated from
Afghanistan as they made their way to a third country.
A US State Department spokesperson confirmed several Afghans had taken part in peaceful demonstrations and that US government officials had met with Afghans this week to discuss their concerns with the resettlement process.
The spokesperson said US screening and vetting of vulnerable Afghans is continuing and that “safe and orderly” travel to the US will be facilitated for those who qualify.
READ MORE: Hundreds of Afghans leave US military bases before resettlement
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
Afghan refugees in UAE protest lack of US resettlement action
Source: Pinay Pop Showbiz
