Afghan Refugees/Cities. What More Can Cities Do for Afghan Refugees? (GMF)

Governments have been scrambling to evacuate their citizens, embassy staff, troops and some locals who have been working with or supporting international presence in the country. At the same time, they are preparing “to ensure no wide-scale migratory move toward Europe.” In this volatile situation national leaders need to recognize that migration will remain an essential lifeline for those facing persecution in Afghanistan. As the Syrian civil war demonstrated, closing one’s eyes to this reality does not stop people from fleeing and will likely make it harder to find and communicate solutions in the long term. Acknowledging the urgent need for action, cities and mayors are raising their voices – where too many national governments are not. They are demanding humanitarian corridors for Afghan refugees, offering reception locations to their national governments, and are preparing local coalitions to host and support vulnerable people fleeing Afghanistan.