KABUL (SW) – Lured by human traffickers, Ahmad wished to migrate irregularly to Europe three years ago, a decision he still laments.
He was promised a smooth ride, but all of his dreams shattered as he entered Iran bordering Afghanistan. Narrating the ordeal of that tiring journey, Ahmad said he was a serving security officials, and wished to migrate due to the security challenges in the country. He confessed that he was not aware of the troubles on the difficult route and all the challenges in host countries that he faced.
Ahmad said the human traffickers promised him a safe and sound journey, but that was not the case. He added that the Iranian border guards opened fire at the migrants who wished to enter the country in a bid to stop them. He added that the human traffickers advised the migrants to hide in the border region amid shooting by the Iranian guards when all of a sudden helicopters emerged in the sky and started shelling at them from the air. Ahmad said an elderly couple first got wounded and later succumbed to their wounds.
He went on to say that the troubles of irregular migration did not end even after reaching host country. Ahmad added that accommodation, finding job and getting used to an alien culture in the host country continue to cause troubles for those migrating irregularly.
Ahmad desperately sold all of his household before embarking on the journey, and now since the German government has rejected his asylum application, he has nowhere to go.
Salam Watandar contacted the International Organization of Migration for statistics on security officials quitting their jobs and applying for asylum abroad.
Syed Sher Hussain Hunaryar, coordinator for Migration Information Center, informed that there are a number of former security officials applying for asylum in foreign countries. He added that is why the MIC presented awareness workshops in a number of private and public offices to sensitize people about the dangers of irregular migration.
According to Hunaryar, more than 11,000 people at public and private institutions have benefited from these workshops.
Husain Pardes, director information and public relations, at the IOM, said no figures are available on individuals who have quit their jobs in Afghanistan and applied for asylum abroad. He, however, dubbed this phenomenon as concerning. He added efforts are underway by the IOM and other partner organizations to address the issue of irregular migration. Pardes informed that at least 5000 Afghans have been returned from European countries and Turkey in the year 2019 alone.
The IOM as well as the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation have been provided assistance to these returnees in a bid to help them restart normal life in Afghanistan.
ENDS
