Afghan evacuees in UAE protest US resettlement delay
Afghans evacuees have launched a rare protest at a United Arab Emirates facility where they have been housed since fleeing their homeland last year.
Thousands of Afghans were last year evacuated to the Gulf Arab state on behalf of the United States and other Western countries amid the chaotic U.S led withdrawal from Afghanistan and return to power of the hardline Islamist Taliban movement.
Afghans attend a protest over lengthy US relocation process, at a Gulf facility where they have been housed since fleeing their homeland.
The UAE agreed to provide Afghans with temporary housing until their applications for relocation could be processed and they could travel onwards to third countries.
Six months later, however, many are still in the UAE in tightly controlled facilities.
“Men, women and children demonstrated inside an Abu Dhabi facility, calling on Washington to welcome them to their second home.
“Children holding banners pleading for freedom and demanding to be sent to the United States to be resettled.
“When we were evacuated, the department of defence had the control of the Kabul airport. No one came by themselves,” another sign read.
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Kamila/Reuters
