New Delhi: As the Taliban took over the country, thousands of Afghan nationals have been forced to leave the country in a hurry. Scenes of Afghan nationals crowding the Kabul International Airport and even trying to hang on to the departing planes have laid bare the desperation of people, highlighting the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the country.
In a press release, attributed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, the UNHCR said, "The evacuation effort has undoubtedly saved tens of thousands of lives, and these efforts are praiseworthy. But when the airlift and the media frenzy are over, the overwhelming majority of Afghans, some 39 million, will remain inside Afghanistan. They need us – governments, humanitarians, ordinary citizens – to stay with them and stay the course."
The UNHCR said that around 3.5 million people have already been displaced by violence within the country – more than half a million since the start of this year.
"Some Afghans will inevitably need to seek safety across the country’s borders. They must be able to exercise their right to seek international protection, and borders must be kept open for them for this purpose," the statement said.
