The director of this organisation, who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons, says that he is in constant contact with partner organizations in Afghanistan that carried out the Dutch projects and that, certainly outside Kabul, more and more things are happening that cannot bear the light of day. ‘It continues in the province. Some of that staff have been very wary for a long time, and often change their sleeping place, for example. People also got the Taliban at their door. Now we are getting word that a number of employees have been imprisoned, and even tortured.’
Limited group
The organisation, well known in and outside the Netherlands, wishes to remain anonymous so as not to further jeopardize the safety of these Afghan people. Incidentally, the director emphasizes that the number of persons who have worked for this organization and who are at risk is limited in size, which has to do with their specific work. “Our other programs in social sectors and in urgently needed humanitarian aid will continue as usual. So it is certainly not the case that we want to evacuate aid workers en masse.’ In doing so, the organization is also responding to the statements of State Secretary Broekers-Knol, who suggested this weekend that there may have been as many as 100 thousand people – a statement for which she has now expressed regret.
On Monday, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Ben Knapen (CDA) characterized the security situation in Afghanistan as ‘extremely unsafe’ in his first appearance before the House. He expressed particular concern about what is going on outside Kabul. At the end of last week, Knapen asked – and received – from the House of Representatives a week’s postponement of a new debate on Afghanistan, and now aims to be able to announce at the end of the week how the cabinet intends to continue the evacuation – and for which people.
‘Expensive duty’
Remaining Dutch people and interpreters left behind and their families will certainly be in the picture. As far as the interpreters are concerned, Knapen spoke of an ‘expensive duty’ on Monday. So far, the cabinet said it would also make efforts to help other Afghans who were on an evacuation list during the airlift but could not be taken along.
There is great uncertainty about Afghans who are at risk because they worked with or for Dutch aid organizations or journalists, or worked as security guards for defense for example. Although the cabinet has repeatedly promised to carry out the Belhaj motion aimed at the evacuation of these Afghans ‘in letter and spirit’, those involved have heard absolutely nothing. In recent weeks, however, various ministries have given the impression that this involves very large numbers of people, while volunteers and aid organizations claim the opposite.
The House was supposed to debate the continuation of the evacuation operation this week, but Knapen asked for and received a postponement from the House. That extra time would be needed to get the ministries aligned, or in Knapen’s words ‘to use every square centimeter of space’ for further evacuations. According to insiders, Justice and Security in particular would put the brakes on coming up with creative solutions to get people out of Afghanistan.
Other European countries have not stood still in recent weeks, according to reports about ambitious evacuation plans from Germany – which uses help from Qatar. Knapen also emphasized on Monday that the evacuation has not stopped in recent weeks. “It’s not like we’re sitting on our hands when it comes to getting people out of the country.”
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