Uganda to Accept 2,000 Afghan Refugees at US Request

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Uganda in Africa has agreed to accommodate 2,000 refugees who fled from the "Taliban-controlled Afghanistan" at the request of the United States.

On the 17th (local time), according to major foreign media citing Ugandan government officials, it was reported that U.S. President Joe Biden made this request to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni the day before. Foreign media reported that President Museveni agreed to President Biden's request.

Most of those sent to Uganda are Afghan government officials, who are expected to stay for three months until the U.S. resettles them elsewhere.

The cost of accommodating the refugees is reported to be fully covered by the United States.

Local media reported that the first flight carrying refugees is scheduled to arrive on the same day.

Uganda is currently the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with about 1.4 million refugees, many of whom are from South Sudan.

Earlier, the U.S. government was reportedly considering a plan to accommodate tens of thousands of Afghan refugees, mainly those who cooperated with the U.S. military, in third countries.

In this regard, CNN reported that up to 8,000 Afghans might also arrive in Qatar in the Middle East.

The Biden administration is conducting a "Cooperator Evacuation Operation" aimed at resettling Afghan residents who previously cooperated with the U.S. military.

The Canadian government also announced on the 13th that it would increase the target number for its Afghan refugee resettlement program to a total of 20,000.

On the same day, the fourth government special flight carrying Afghan refugees, including interpreters, arrived in Canada.

In addition to local interpreters and their families who previously benefited from the special refugee program, the government plans to additionally support female leaders, minorities, and journalists.

Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said that the evacuation support work for locals is being carried out under "extremely difficult circumstances" and that they will closely cooperate with allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.