By: Mirwais Jalalzai
2016 was a happy year for human traffickers in Afghanistan around 100,000 Afghan nationals flees the country just in first 10 months of the year.
War and poverty are two main factors which forced Afghans mainly youths to leave the country and chose risky rotes for reaching their dream places in Europe.
Asylum seekers from Afghanistan are the second largest block of refugees worldwide.
Abdulla Poplzai, 19, arrived to Germany last September, after walking most of the way from Pakistan to Germany via Iran, Turkey and Balkans.
This young man had no possessions, no documents, and no money only had a dream to reach Germany, and he heard the German people are very kind and humble.
“I miss my family so much. I cry, I am crying now and I tell myself things where much better when I was with my parents, brothers and sisters, “he said.
“My parents said I must come to Europe, get an education and job, and finally send them money and help the family.
According to Afghan government and UN organizations in Afghanistan, the human traffickers had a great business in last two years. Estimations says, more than 2 billion US dolor paid to the regional human traffickers in this two years by afghans.
It is very hard to the human traffickers to do their business in Afghanistan without government support or links with war lords and former Mujahedeen commanders.
Some of the former commanders of the Northern Alliance, whom fought against Taliban are deeply involved in this business and they made several million US dolor in last two years .
Afghanistan Human Rights Commission (AHRC) activists said that human trafficking has changed in to a dangerous challenge in the country which needed a serious fight to prevent.
Last week this commission announced for the first time, the practical program to fight human trafficking has been proposed by AHRC to the government, based on which the government established the law on fighting human trafficking.
International human rights expert Malek Sitez said, Afghanistan’s government, headed by rivals, President Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah has little real control.
“The so-called National Unity government lacks legitimacy and is more focused on dividing power between ethnic groups, then acting in the national interests and such a big issues like human trafficking, “Mr.Sitez said.
“They should be focusing on building a sustainable economy, rooting out corruption, providing opportunities for young people, tackling warlordisem and Islamic extremism.”
In a message addressing the people of Afghanistan, he said, ‘the people of Afghanistan should get educated and try to help the country get rid of the ongoing challenges and lead it toward welfare, economic development and calm atmosphere.’
In fact, poverty and lack of people awareness on aftermaths are the main factors behind human trafficking menace, he went on to say.
Likewise, findings suggest that human trafficking has increased in Afghanistan, with 47 percent of the people call insecurities, terrorist groups’ threats and inattention of the relevant in-charges as the main reasons behind increasing human trafficking.
He said, ‘unfortunately recently, the human trafficking has increased and the reasons behind are insecurity, unemployment and rampant corruption. He asked the government to seriously step up in the respect.
The latest U.S. report on human trafficking has put Afghanistan in the second tier in terms of human trafficking and states that most of the victims are reported to be children.
The major concern expressed in the report was about the Afghan migrants who have been forced in to sex slavery in Greece – the major route Afghans use for getting to Europe.
Meanwhile, many Afghan asylum seekers, who have paid thousands of dollars to reach Europe, are being deported to Kabul.
Based on figures, in 2015 and 2016, more than 200,000 Afghans have left their country to seek asylum in foreign countries.
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