More than 3,000 people have been brought from Afghanistan to the Netherlands since the fall of Kabul | news item
News item | 30-03-2022 | 14:08
Since the Taliban have brought Kabul about 3100 people from the Netherlands to the Netherlands. For 1,860 persons this was between 15 and 26 August. An additional 1,200 people followed between early September and 21 March. At the moment there are still about 1500 people who are allowed to come to the Netherlands. Less than 1200 of them are still in Afghanistan, 330 are in transit in a third country. Ministers Hoekstra (Foreign Affairs), Ollongren (Defence) and State Secretary Van der Burg (Justice and Security) write this in a composed letter to the House of Representatives.
Special facility
The mapping of people who come to decisions for transfer to the Netherlands on the basis of the special provision as announced in the letter to parliament of 11 October 2021 is almost ready. This concerns 625 employees of NGO projects financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And about 500 people who worked for Defense, EUPOL or a Dutch mission. Some of this is already in our country.
Extra effort for journalists and human rights defenders
A list prepared by the European Union lists about 650 Afghans who are at high risk. The Netherlands is composed of 25 human rights defenders and (fixers of) journalists to be included, including their family members. In the letter to parliament of 11 October, the cabinet had already announced in an international context – together with EU member states – that it wanted to make an extra effort for this specific group.
Passport
It is a ‘labour-intensive process with many transactions’ to transfer people until their application has been approved, according to the letter to parliament. The biggest challenge for people is to get people out of Afghanistan. Even babies and small children need a valid passport. The Netherlands advises against crossing the border with Pakistan or Iran without this document. People who do this will be taken and deported. In practice, it is also often not possible to continue your journey to the Netherlands.
Routes to the Netherlands
The Netherlands mainly uses the routes via Pakistan and Iran to transfer Afghans. Dutch embassies in both countries, who can issue a visa for the trip to the Netherlands on presentation of a passport. Also arranging future reception in the country, in collaboration with the local office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Until the beginning of December, the Netherlands made extensive use of the route via Qatar. special, the flights on this route have been suspended.