Poverty, insecurity forcing Afghans to leave their homeland

Poverty, insecurity and the lack of opportunities for a better life in Afghanistan have driven many Afghans to migrate to other countries and, at times, under difficult circumstances.

In news reports about the horde of migrants trying to enter Europe through dangerous sea routes and overland entry points, there are always Afghans among them.

"The continuing conflict and extreme poverty have forced me to leave my home in Achin District of Nangarhar and went to Kabul city to find a way to go to Europe," Amir Mohammad, 17, told Xinhua recently.

Mohammad, who has been working as daily wage earner in a brick kiln over the past three months, receiving a meager 400 afghanis (6.20 US dollars), said that he is fed up with the endless fighting between the Taliban fighters and government forces in his home district of Achin over the past few years.

"The endless fighting between government forces and Taliban in the past years and later the clash between Daesh and Taliban fighters had forced me and many others to leave our homes in search of a peaceful and better life," Mohammad said.

He said because he has lost hope of having a better life in Afghanistan, he was saving his earnings and looking forward to traveling to Europe even if it would be very risky.

Mohammmad's home district of Achin is one of few places where the Islamic State (IS), also known as Daesh, has lately gained foothold. During the past few months, there was intense fighting between the Taliban militants and Daesh fighters.

According to Mohammad, by using violent and barbaric methods, such as beheading of their victims, Daesh fighters have captured several villagers and tortured residents some two months ago.

The Daesh militants, Mohammad said, have also ordered the residents of villages that they have captured to register the names of unmarried girls and widows in their household and ordered women to be confined to their homes, an edict which, they say, is based on the Koran.

"The lingering war and poverty have deprived me of education and has forced me to work in the brick kiln for the past five months," another laborer at the brick kiln, Mohammad Nadim, 19, said.

Working with a monthly salary of 9,000 afghanis, Nadim said, "I like to remain in Afghanistan if I can get a better job and regular income, otherwise, I would go to Europe."

Amir, 15, another brick kiln worker, said his daily stipend of 300 afghanis could not support his nine-member family, considering the high prices of basic commodities. He said he and the other members of his family are also afraid of the sporadic fighting between the militants and security forces.

The number of Afghans who are trying to flee their militancy-plagued country can be gauged from the long lines of those applying for visas at the embassies of Iran, Turkey, India and Pakistan in Kabul.

According to Hafiz Ahmad Miakhil, an advisor to the Ministry for Refugees and Repatriation Affairs, out of some 350,000 asylum seekers who have traveled through the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe in 2015, around 40,000 of them were Afghans.
 Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
22/10/15
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