Government Turns Down Request for Afghans To Seek Refuge in SA Amid Taliban Takeover
- Amid the Taliban's recent takeover in Afghanistan, the South African government says it cannot accommodate citizens seeking refuge
- This is due to an already overwhelmed social welfare system according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco)
- Thousands of people want to flee Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US forces a fortnight ago
PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!
Amid the Taliban's cataclysmic return to power in Afghanistan, the South African government says it does not have the capacity to accommodate refugees who fled the country to Pakistan.
An already overwhelmed social welfare system presents a challenge for South Africa and would not enable the intake of more refugees, according to a TimesLIVE report.
Source: Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said it noted the move toward negotiations for South Africa to consider receiving Afghan refugees who had sought refuge in Pakistan.
SA seeing to needs of a high number of refugees
Thousands of people want to flee after the Islamist militant group took control on the heels of the withdrawal of US forces just over a fortnight ago.
PAY ATTENTION: Never miss breaking news – join Briefly News' Telegram channel!
“The request is that they be accommodated in SA en route to their final destinations. The government is, unfortunately, not in a position to accommodate such a request," said Dirco spokesperson, Clayson Monyela.
“South Africa is already hosting a high number of refugees. Many are beneficiaries of the social assistance and healthcare programmes offered by our country.”
Monyela added international law makes the provision that the wellbeing of refugees is best accommodated by remaining in the first country of arrival pending their final destinations.
According to AFP, per News24, the United Nations (UN) said it was bracing itself for a possible exodus of up to half a million more Afghan refugees by the end of the year.
The intergovernmental organisation said although there aren't proportionally a high number of people at borders, there are plans to change this in the face of a worsening crisis.
Contact has been made with South Africans in Afghanistan
In related news, Briefly News reported that local authorities say that contact has been made with South African citizens in Afghanistan in the wake of the takeover.
Dirco has been in contact with the South African High Commission in Pakistan and indicated that plans to return citizens back home were in motion, according to TimesLIVE.
Nationals who also wished to escape Afghanistan and return to South Africa are encouraged to contact the South African High Commission or Dirco to make arrangements.
Source: Briefly News
