The United States government has announced that the Afghan refugee camp, Sayliyah, in Qatar, will be closed by the end of March, and more than 1,000 refugees and their families must leave the facility
Scripps News reported on Monday, March 30, citing a spokesperson for the US Department of State, that remaining in the camp is considered “inappropriate,” and refugees must either relocate to a third country or repatriate to Afghanistan.
Advocates warn that closing the camp without a “real plan” could put these individuals’ lives at risk.
Many of the refugees are civilians who cooperated with US forces during the 20-year war, and more than half of them are women and children.
“These allies essentially have a red, white, and blue target on their backs because of their affiliation with the US. So the idea that they could safely return to Afghanistan isn’t just absurd, it’s downright dangerous,” Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Global Refuge, said.
She added that the US government is obligated to honor its promises and provide a safe and clear solution for these individuals.
Vignarajah stated that when this promise is broken publicly and visibly, it sends a message to the world not to trust America.
