South Africa says unable to receive Afghan refugees despite requests

JOHANNESBURG

South Africa said late Wednesday that it is not in a position to accommodate Afghan refugees who have fled their country into neighboring Pakistan.

“The South African government notes the overtures made to the country to consider receiving a number of Afghan refugees who have sought refuge in Pakistan,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement.

DIRCO said the country had been requested to accommodate the refugees as they travel en-route to their final destinations.

“The South African government is unfortunately not in a position to accommodate such a request,” it said.

DIRCO said South Africa is already home to a substantial number of refugees and is occupied with addressing their needs.

South Africa said most of the refugees it already hosts benefit from its social assistance programs, including free medical health programs offered by the country.

“In terms of international law, the well-being of the refugees is best served by remaining in the first country of arrival – Pakistan – pending their final destinations,” the statement said.

Uganda and Colombia are some of the developing countries offering temporary asylum to Afghan refugees awaiting resettlement in the US and other wealthy Western nations.​​​​​​​

Last week, a plane carrying 51 Afghans fleeing violence in their country landed at Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport, where they were given temporary asylum. A number of other Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Uganda in the coming days.