Qatar falls short on promises… Afghan refugees suffer in Doha camp

The hardline Taliban took control of Afghanistan when they captured the capital Kabul on August 15. The country’s president, Ashraf Ghani, surrendered to the extremist group and fled the country, just a few days before US troops formally approached to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan on September 11.

Thousands of civilians have flocked to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to leave the country for other countries, promising to shelter them and provide them with a calm and dignified life.

Among those countries, we find Qatar, which has promised to receive, protect and welcome the displaced, especially after official statements made by Doha officials on discussing the status of refugees and providing a mechanism for transporting them. Many Afghans fled to Qatar to escape the terrorism and fire of the Taliban movement, but the reality of the deterioration of the situation quickly became clear, and they witnessed suffering similar to the tragedy of foreign workers in the Gulf emirate.

“On Thursday, a local news agency released a video of an Afghan refugee camp in Qatar, showing their plight there, where they complained there was no air-conditioning system and one refugee said in the video that there was only one toilet and bathroom in the camp.”

In the video, Afghan refugees can be heard complaining about the hot weather and lack of other services.

This video shows Doha’s contradiction in dealing with the issue. While the officials of the terrorist Taliban movement enjoy luxury and all services during their office in Doha, which was opened since 2013 under the pretext of peace efforts and talks with the United States, it was a way to provide all means of support, protection and empowerment to them, even money and weapons, the latest of which was through the guise of the reconstruction of Afghanistan by granting $500 million, in addition to ignoring all international criticism in this regard, the refugees are languishing in a camp that does not have the minimum living conditions.

This contradiction is demonstrated by the fact that Qatari websites are celebrating news of Doha’s discussion with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the situation of Afghans and claiming to provide all means of human comfort to them, Qatar’s Al-Sharq newspaper reported last Wednesday that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed ben Abderrahmane Al‑Thani, received a phone call from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, to discuss the Afghan refugee influx, the need to develop international mechanisms to deal with the displaced, in addition to the recommendations of the High Commission not to impose forced return on Afghan citizens.

The Qatari statement also claimed the High Commissioner’s praise of the efforts made by Qatar in Afghanistan, expressing the hope that those efforts would contribute to the imposition of a better reality for refugees and their families.

According to India’s Republic World revealed the opposite when he posted a complaint from Afghan citizens in Qatar refugee camp about their plight and lack of services, along with a video clip of an Afghan refugee camp in Qatar.

This was not the only video documenting the deteriorating situation of Afghan refugees in Qatar. The Afghan news agency Aswaka published photos and videos denouncing Qatari promises and the plight of citizens fleeing the war in Afghanistan to the woes of Doha.

Through its Twitter page, the Afghan agency posted videos exposing the inhumane suffering, commenting on the plight of Afghan refugees in the Qatar refugee camp. Citizens suffer from a lack of an air-conditioning system with just one toilet and shower for everyone, he said, noting that Afghan refugees complain about the hot weather and lack of services.

Social media users also shared photographs showing refugees in Qatar piling up, not providing any services except food at the Doha airbase and the extreme suffering of children among them.

This is due to the high temperatures in Qatar and the overcrowding of many in the camps. In light of these large numbers, they are deprived of bathing or humanitarian access to the toilet, which proves that humanitarian services are not provided and Doha has failed to deliver its promises. The suffering of foreigners on its soil is increasing, and the fact that it lied about promoting itself as a country of humanity and a host for refugees is clear.