Why children from Afghanistan flee to Germany
For decades, Afghanistan has been one of the main countries of origin for refugee children and young people in Germany. With the Taliban's renewed takeover of power in 2021, the situation in the country, particularly for children and young people, has deteriorated dramatically. At the same time, Afghanistan is currently the focus of debates in Germany, primarily concerning migration control: The federal government intends to end the federal resettlement program for particularly vulnerable people, deportation flights are being publicly portrayed as political successes, and protection rates for asylum seekers from Afghanistan have recently plummeted. The report "'They don't see us as human beings' – Why children from Afghanistan flee to Germany" therefore focuses on a question that is often neglected in public discourse: Why do children and young people flee to Germany – what are they seeking protection from? It reveals contradictions between the actual situation in the country and the public debate in Germany.
Order or download the brochure
Brochure »They don't see us as human beings«
You can download the report "'They don't see us as human beings' – Why children from Afghanistan flee to Germany" as a PDF in our materials shop or order it free of charge as a bound brochure.
Order or downloadFour young people tell their story
The reasons why children and young people flee Afghanistan are manifold. Using concrete case studies, we present at least some of these reasons and their stories. These stories illustrate that children fleeing from Afghanistan to Germany have often experienced widespread violence in their country of origin and during their escape. But they are also young people with their own worries, hopes, and dreams.
To protect the young people involved, pseudonyms are used throughout. Details such as location information have been partially obscured for security reasons, without fundamentally altering the young people's statements or the overall circumstances of the case.
The demands of Terre des Hommes
Safe escape routes save lives: That's why reception and resettlement programs must be urgently maintained and expanded. Application processes must be made more efficient and more sensitive to the conditions in the regions of origin and the needs of asylum seekers. Guarantees of protection must be honored. Family reunification procedures must be accelerated, capacities expanded, and long waiting times shortened – because waiting times mean ongoing danger and unbearable separations for children and their families.
Children from Afghanistan have a right to protection in Germany: Upon return to Afghanistan, they and their families face torture, inhuman and degrading treatment, destitution, and in the worst cases, death. Therefore, depending on their individual circumstances, they should be granted refugee status or subsidiary protection. Child-specific reasons for fleeing must always be examined and given special consideration. Children and families from Afghanistan who are currently living in Germany with only a temporary suspension of deportation need reliable options for permanent residency, not years of uncertainty. Terre des Hommes rejects deportations to Afghanistan.
Arrival requires support and opportunities for participation: For children to find a home in Germany, they need child-friendly accommodation and unrestricted access to education and psychosocial support. Furthermore, young people from Afghanistan must be heard in the debates that determine their future: Their experiences and diverse contributions to society must be made visible to the public and incorporated into political decisions. This requires financial and structural support for youth self-organizations and young activists with refugee backgrounds.
How Terre des Hommes helps in Afghanistan and along the refugee routes
For many years, Terre des Hommes together with partner organizations from local civil society, has been supporting children and young people in Afghanistan, along the migration routes, and in Germany. Together, we provide psychosocial and therapeutic support, educational and sports programs, and legal advice. This work consistently demonstrates that children and young people need spaces where they can simply be children, where they are taken seriously and heard.
Your contact person
Teresa Wilmes
Speaker for the Germany and Europe program