On World Refugee Day, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need of support for refugees worldwide and said that if conflicts in countries are resolved, people would not be forced to seek refuge.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also stressed the need for solidarity of countries in supporting refugees globally.
Guterres said: “On World Refugee Day, let’s reaffirm the world’s collective responsibility in assisting & welcoming refugees, in upholding their human rights – including the right to seek asylum – and ultimately, in resolving conflicts so that those forced from their communities can return home.”
Meanwhile, Afghan refugees in various countries have reported facing various challenges, including the rejection of asylum requests.
“Some migrants who are displaced in Western countries face residency problems, with their asylum requests being rejected,” Ghulam Ali Wahdat, a refugee in Germany, told TOLOnews.
“Attention should be given to [the migrants], and they should be taken care of because every young person who has left Afghanistan has done so due to some problem, either economic or political,” said Ahmad Faisal, an Afghan refugee in Turkey.
Some refugee rights activists said that in the current situation, a number of Afghan refugees in other countries are facing the threat of deportation.
“The Islamic Emirate should seize this World Refugee Day as an opportunity and utilize the talents, skills, and existing capacities of the migrant community in the country,” Mohammadkhan Mohammadzi, a refugee rights activist, told TOLOnews.
“Most newly arrived migrants are at risk of deportation. The ruling regime in Afghanistan must provide opportunities for education, employment, and a stable life,” said Asifa Stanekzai, a refugee rights activist.
Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, said that the country’s current situation is good and that Afghan refugees can return home.
Mujahid added: “Afghanistan is their country, and they should return to Afghanistan. In other countries, in a state of needing refuge, their Afghan dignity and pride are not maintained.”
June 20 has been designated by the United Nations as World Refugee Day to honor the rights of refugees worldwide.