Afghanistan: ‘The best way to prevent a migratory crisis is to prevent a humanitarian crisis’

Following yesterday’s (31 August) meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, EU home affairs ministers issued a statement calling for a determined and concerted approach, one that was missing in 2015 with the arrival of refugees from the ongoing Syrian conflict. However, no figures on resettlement have been agreed - Commissioner Johansson is organizing a conference next month on this matter. The ‘High Level Resettlement Forum’ will discuss “concrete” priorities with member states and provide what the EU describes as “sustainable” solutions for those Afghans who are most vulnerable, which the commissioner considers to be Afghani women and girls. Top priority has been given to the evacuation of EU citizens and to the extent possible of Afghan nationals and their families who have co-operated with the EU and individual EU states. The EU is co-ordinating with the UN and its agencies, other countries, especially with those in the neighbourhood to stabilize the region and to ensure that humanitarian aid can reach vulnerable populations and to offer support to countries who are hosting those who have already fled in the neighbourhood. In particular, the EU has already agreed to quadruple financial assistance. Europol is also being asked to look at the security risks that could emerge. The EU will also strengthen its action to prevent what it calls illegal migration by mandating the EU agencies to operate to their full extent, and help with capacity building, but the statement also acknowledges the need to support and provide adequate protection to those in need, in line with EU law and our international obligations.