The love of motherland is timeless and immortal. Its warmth is deeply realized when a person is expatriated temporarily or compellingly. The decade long bloody conflict has shaken the once sound foundation of peace and stability of this piece of land. Peace was one of the critical element, Afghans have been in the search of over a lengthened period of time. However, the phenomenon of terrorism and insurgency are pressing hard the common populace of Afghanistan and Middles East to flee in the search for safe sanctuary.
The unstable political and security condition in Afghanistan and Middle East have coerced large number of people flee their homeland and seek refuge in one of the European country choosing precarious routs via sea or barren lands. Mostly it’s witnessed significant number of migrants lose their lives due to unsafe and life claiming journeys. Formerly, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicated that 3,573 migrants have lost their lives while attempting to reach Italy, Greece and Spain since last August. Representing just fewer than 10 fatalities per day over the last 365 days, statistics show that the flow of migrants seeking to reach European shores is continuing to rise, with as many as 267,121 maritime migrant arrivals being reported so far in 2015. The United Nations’ refugee agency said Friday that more than 300,000 people have tried to flee across the Mediterranean so far this year, far surpassing the 219,000 who sought to cross during all of 2014. At least 2,500 have died this year; but as was the case with the migrants who drowned Thursday night, the true toll may never be known.
A significant number of refugees constitute Afghan population. Earlier a goods transporting truck carried over 70 fatless migrants across the Austria to Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Unluckily the breathing difficulty suffocated all those migrants in the truck that was parked on roadside. The incidents send a shock wave over the spine of humanitarian organizations and the host countries. “Traffickers and smugglers are criminals. They have no interest in the welfare of refugees. This tragedy is concern for all of us.” This talks was made by Austria’s interior minister, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, in attention to earlier notorious “truck incidence” in Austria. It was indeed dreadful when a driverless truck caught the sight of Austrian police, parked on a motorway carrying the decomposing bodies of 71 misfortunate migrants, inside instead of carrying the advertised goods. There were 71 dead bodies including 59 men, eight women and four children in the truck. The victims are thought to be refugees from Middle East or possibly Afghanistan, part of a huge wave of migrants pushing through Europe via unsafe routs. Following the sorry occurrence around 20,000 people took to the streets of Vienna to demonstrate against ill-treatment of migrants. The protesters marched in the streets at the city’s Westbahnhof holding up large banners reading “Refugees welcome” and “I don’t want Europe to be a mass grave”.
Unlike the greater insecurity and fragile political circumstances in Middle East, Afghanistan owes a legitimate government. It was anticipated an Afghan official to come forth investigating those hapless Afghans who endangered their lives in the search for peace, security and other amenities of life. Could not the Afghan government call a remembrance day to pay tribute to those fatless souls and accept their sacrifice? It was the height of display of responsibility when the government of foreign land regretted and the masses demonstrated the tragic incident. Unfortunately, no committee was set to investigate the number of Afghan departed bodies; even the government did not resort to simple condemnation. The accusation can not be labeled to Afghan government only but lack of consciousness on the part of ordinary masses is also worth praising. It was awaited the civil society to play their part remembering the abandoned souls. Unfortunately, nothing came out of complicit silence.
Insecurity is not the only reason that forces them flee the country. The populace of Afghanistan also suffers economic discrepancy, social disparity, domestic violence, unemployment and other elementary issues worst affecting masses that are left with a option to search for livelihood in countries abroad. The escalating rebellion and terrorism supplemented with ill-administration, corruption and bad governance have alleviated the probability of betterment at present. The dreary picture, post US withdrawal and following presidential election portrays is not substantive to build up enough confidence persuading Afghans participate in building measure of Afghanistan in substitute for quitting the country. Consequently, large number of Afghans has in pursuit of peace, ecstasy and priceless material gain leave for foreign countries.
During the 1980s and 1990s, roughly six million Afghans fled the country and took refuge in Pakistan and Iran. However, estimates put around five million returning to Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban regime. With the exception to momentary peace no substantial outcome the repatriation could brings to the illegal emigrants. The sufferings of migrants abroad do not end here; realistically it brings endless tail of multifaceted inexplicable miseries.
As many of the young Afghan men and women who are migrating to other countries in search of a better life are doing so illegally, they are unable to live well when they reach their destinations. According to MoLSAMD officials, the other major cause of the plight of female Afghans abroad is the rise in violence against women. Fleeing abuse at home, many Afghan women seek safety and a new life abroad. Last month the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reported a rise in violence against women in 2013, saying that it registered over 2,500 cases in the first four months of the year alone. The dominant gender based discrimination must end and women should be given greater share in every walk of life.
The government must pay greater attention improving the livening condition of ordinary Afghan. This can be done by putting a greater amount leadership quality in practice. Afghanistan is resourceful country, bringing a little intelligence into use these resources can be transformed into opportunity. Corruption, embezzlement, bribery, nepotism and weakened rule of law murdering our social conscience must be discouraged. Having taken these bold measures the despondency can be removed and emigration declined.