Six Months On, Australia’s Response To The Afghanistan Crisis Proves To Be Inadequate
Relatives of Afghan-Australians are being abducted by the Taliban, with no proof that they’re even still alive. When will the Morrison Government step up?
Six months after the Taliban takeover, Afghan-Australians continue to feel frustrated at the Morrison Government’s lack of support during the country’s continued and unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Aid groups warned politicians in February that the situation in Afghanistan is turning into a “living hell” — with poverty, famine, and threats to rights under extreme risk. Meanwhile, a Senate committee interim report this year described Australia’s abandonment of interpreters and colleagues there during its formal troop withdrawal as “dishonourable”.
A rally last Tuesday in front of Canberra’s Parliament House begged Australia to grant more protection visas and permanent residency opportunities — and yet, despite 150,000 Afghan nationals having applied for visas, only 15,000 will be allocated over the next four years, according to an announcement in January.
Despite having chance after chance to step up and assist in a dire time of need, Australia is still falling short with Afghanistan.
Situation On The Ground
Spokesperson for the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network Mariam Veiszadeh told Junkee she fears for her extended family back home, after they received multiple threats from the Taliban.
One of her elderly relatives was abducted more than three months ago, and still hasn’t been found or returned home. His son was also taken, but managed to escape, and is now in hiding.
“A ransom request was sent asking for $300,000 USD for his safe return, although there are no signs that he is still actually alive,” she said of the father. “People cannot feed their children, let alone come up with this kind of money. The country is in a state of anarchy.”
In Kabul, 29 women and their families were detained on Saturday, a women’s rights activist was arrested a week before that, and concerns have been raised over the Taliban’s reversion to restricting female education and employment opportunities.
Afghan-Australian fashion designer Lida Mangal told Junkee she is still in touch with her loved ones and friends in Afghanistan, who share with her how hard it is financially right now.
“The economy has collapsed, and 95 percent of women I know can no longer work. The tiny percentage of Afghan women who still have a job have agreed to continue working with reduced pay,” she explained, saying that women are also no longer allowed to work in the public sector. “The majority of the people I know search for ways to leave Afghanistan. People who can afford to go will not stay there for a day longer.”
Mangal said small businesses are struggling, and people are limiting their spending in anticipation of a volatile and unknown future. She has also heard of parents resorting to selling their children out of desperation.
“The situation on the ground is extremely upsetting,” she said. “There is little or no hope under the Taliban government.”
Continued Instability
Afghan refugees in Australia on temporary protection visas are asking for more stability as well — unable to plan their futures, and are still separated from the families who they can’t sponsor due to their visa type. Every three to five years, they have to reapply with the Department of Home Affairs, even though a safe return to their homeland is impossible under current circumstances.
There are currently 5000 Afghans on temporary visas, many of whom have been in Australia for the last decade. Advocates say their insecure visa type halts their ability to travel, access financial institutions or apply for loans, and forces students to pay full international tuition fees.
“I was 17 when I was forced to leave Afghanistan by the same regime that controls the country now. I have been living in Australia for the past 10 years — it was hard to start my life in here with temporary protection visas,” said Afghan refugee Reza in a statement, whose name has been changed. “I managed to get a scholarship to go to university, but I lost the scholarship after two years of studying due to changes in the visa.”
“The temporary protection visa has put my life on hold, I can’t move forward, and I can’t plan my future everything is temporary for me. I’m asking the Australian Government to end this temporary life and grant me permanent protection so I can start a normal life,” she said.
How Australia Can Help Afghanistan
On Monday, a lobby group met with Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to push for a boost in Afghan refugee intake numbers, the day after it was revealed his department was planning to deport a minority Hazara man back to Afghanistan.
Veiszadeh said the Federal Government’s promises on Afghanistan are nothing more than a smokescreen. “Their recent announcement was deceptive, as there are actually no additional humanitarian places being offered and the processing of the existing applications have been painfully slow,” she said.
“It isn’t an increase, and it is not an additional intake. It doesn’t recognise the community’s calls for action, our relationship to the war, and need right now.” Spaced over four years, the promised 15,000 spots equates to 3750 people per year — which is close to identical to what Australia already offers.
Mangal also called out the Morrison Government’s pledge to pass $65 million in humanitarian funding this financial year to Afghanistan, as not enough — saying the chances of their economy recovering relies on ongoing financial support, and a long term strategy to support the refugees Australia refuses to bring over.
“The sudden change of situation in Afghanistan has left the Afghans no choice but to migrate. People are risking their lives in the hope of securing a peaceful life, and the Australian Government has a moral obligation to support the Afghans,” she said.
Millie Roberts is Junkee’s social justice reporter. Follow her on Twitter.