Uganda is set to host 2,000 Afghan refugees following political unrest in the Arabian country.
According to state minister for Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Esther Anyakun, the hosting of Afghan refugees follows US’s request tendered in yesterday.
Joe Biden’s request follows a dramatic day at Kabul’s international airport, where hundreds of civilians desperate to flee the country forced their way inside on Monday. Many thronged the runway, running alongside a moving military transporter aircraft as it prepared for take-off. Some clung to the side of plane, and at least two of them are reported to have perished when they fell from the aircraft after it had left the ground.
“We shall host them temporarily before they can be relocated by US government. It was request from US government to His Excellency president Yoweri Museveni and we started the preparation yesterday,” Ms Anyakun
The first group of 500 refugees who were mostly working with the out government was expected to touch down yesterday however up to now they are nowhere to be seen.
The 2000 refugee’s bills will be catered for by the American government for a period of three months. Unlike other asylum seekers, the Afghans will not go to refugee camps but will be hosted in various hotels in the country.
On Sunday, the Taliban took over Afghanistan and declared victory after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled and his government collapsed. The militants’ return to rule brings an end to almost 20 years of a US-led coalition’s presence in the country.
Kabul was the last major city in Afghanistan to fall to a Taliban offensive that began months ago but accelerated in recent days as they gained control of territories, shocking many observers.
