*Photo of people at Kabul airport trying to flee the country. From the Twitter of Bojro Baatul @BBaatul*
After a 20 years long failed war in Afghanistan, the U.S. has finally pulled their military out of the country. Within a matter of days of that happening, the Taliban has taken over large portions of the country, including the capital city of Kabul. The Taliban takeover has sent the country and it's residents into a devastating crisis. Many people will not fare well under Taliban rule, including those who helped the U.S. or the Afghan government. Plus, entire demographics like women and LGBTQ people will face severe restrictions of their human rights under this new rule.
That's why it's so critical that each and every Afghan refugee who wants to leave the country is able to safely find asylum elsewhere. Sign the petition to demand the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK take in as many refugees as possible!
Already there are reports of young girls dropping out of school and women tearing up their advanced degrees so as not to become targets. Essential workers are hiding and basic infrastructure like sanitation and electricity could soon be in trouble! The Taliban is threatening to kill family members of those who have been helping the U.S. and NATO forces. Some Afghans are taking to the streets to protest the Taliban takeover. And many, many Afghans are trying desperately to flee the country to save their lives and the lives of their families. But even getting to the airport is proving dangerous, some people tried climbing over boundary walls at the airport with chicken wire at the top.
One thing is clear: things are in chaos and a lot of people are in danger and need safe haven immediately.
The UK has said they will take 20,000 people over several years. But many people can't wait years. Canada also said they can take 20,000 people, specifically prioritizing LGBTQ people and other vulnerable groups like journalists and women leaders. Australia has said they have no plans to take in any Afghans. And worst of all, the U.S. is not doing nearly enough. They are planning to fully withdraw all troops by August 31 and aren't even clear on how many refugees they will take. As of this writing, at least 18,000 applications seeking asylum in the U.S. have already been filed.
Given the United States' role in this war and the current reign of terror, they should be taking in way more refugees. Sign the petition to demand the United States, Australia, Canada and the UK take in more refugees immediately!
