Local workers from Afghanistan: EU leaders promise security and help

First photo taken at a Spanish military airport: This is where many Afghan local workers end up after being rescued. EU Council President Michel and EU Commission President von der Leyen were there and promised help.

Afghan EU staff and their relatives, but also other refugees who are particularly at risk, are sitting in a converted hangar: They are looked after at long rows of tables by the military, the Red Cross and other helpers. Outside there are large olive green dome tents where people can sleep.

The initial reception center should offer space for up to 800 people, for a maximum of 72 hours. Then at the latest they will be distributed so that there is room for newcomers. Some stay in Spain, others have already traveled to Denmark and the Baltic states, for example.

Spain is proud to take on this task, said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. In good times and in difficult times, Spain stood for the values ​​of the Union. He is convinced that the 20 years in Afghanistan have not been in vain: the EU has sown values ​​such as freedom, education and equality with concrete work, and these seeds will one day sprout.

“We are not naive”

The EU will not give up its commitment to the people in Afghanistan, said Council President Charles Michel:

We will have to work hard to continue defending the European project. It will not be easy for human rights to be respected, especially the rights of women and girls. We are not naive, we see where the threats lie. And we will also have to deal with migration.

A plea for humanitarian aid

Contingent and safe travel corridors for particularly threatened groups such as human rights activists, women’s rights activists and journalists should be a topic at the upcoming G7 summit, said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

But the many other refugees in the country also need help. There was agreement between the European member states, in the European Union, that humanitarian aid must continue to be provided. Most of the people who are on the run are on the run within the country. “I welcome the fact that member states have offered emergency aid, and the Commission is also examining an increase in humanitarian aid,” said von der Leyen.

“No political talks with Taliban”

Further development aid in Afghanistan, on the other hand, is a completely different matter; it is of course linked to the fact that, for example, human rights or the equality of women are respected. For example, there are currently contacts with the Taliban on a technical level for the specific handling of evacuation measures – but these are not political talks with which, for example, the Taliban government is recognized.