terre des hommes criticizes planned cuts to the Afghanistan resettlement program
Osnabrück/Berlin, July 17, 2024 – Today, the government's draft budget for 2025 will be presented. It has been revealed that massive cuts are planned for the resettlement program for Afghanistan. This would mean the end of hope for thousands of vulnerable people. Together with numerous organizations, the children's rights organization terre des hommes is appealing to the German government to increase funding instead of cutting it.
“The resettlement program is a lifeline and a source of hope for thousands of vulnerable people. Cutting funding would deprive many of them of their last chance at a safe life,” says Joshua Hofert, spokesperson for the board of terre des hommes . “Former terre des hommes project staff are also at risk. They have worked for girls and women, protecting them from forced marriage, providing them with education, training, and income, and are therefore in danger. Since the Taliban seized power, girls are only allowed to attend school up to the sixth grade.”
Given this situation, it is unacceptable that the number of people admitted to Germany falls far short of the promised figures, due in part to a lack of staff and resources. Now, funding for the program is to be cut to a mere 13 percent compared to the previous year. From October 2022 to mid-July 2024, only 533 people came to Germany through the program. Since the Taliban seized power terre des hommes has been supporting the resettlement of vulnerable individuals. Eighty-five former project staff members and their families have been evacuated to Germany, and numerous other vulnerable individuals are currently in the resettlement process and are waiting in Pakistan or Afghanistan for an opportunity to leave.