Latest news with #Refugees
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Exclusive: Trump pledged to save Afghans. But UAE already sent some evacuees back, cable shows
WASHINGTON, July 20 (Reuters) - Days before President Donald Trump said he would help Afghan evacuees who fled their country and were stuck in the United Arab Emirates, the Emirati government had already begun returning them to Afghanistan and informed Washington that it was doing so, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters on Sunday. The UAE, a close security partner of the United States, agreed in 2021 to temporarily house several thousand Afghans evacuated from Kabul as the Taliban ousted the U.S.-backed government during the final stages of the U.S.-led withdrawal. Throughout the years, about 17,000 Afghan evacuees have been processed through the Abu Dhabi facility, known as Emirates Humanitarian City. However, more than 30 remaining Afghans have been stuck with their fate in limbo. News outlet "Just the News" reported on Sunday that UAE officials were preparing to hand over some Afghan refugees to the Taliban. "I will try to save them, starting right now," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday that linked to an article on the Afghans held in limbo there. However, it may already be too late for some. In a July 10 meeting with U.S. officials in Abu Dhabi, Salem al-Zaabi, UAE Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister, told the Americans that two families had been "successfully and safely" sent back to Afghanistan in early July, the cable, which had the same date as the meeting, said. Al-Zaabi told the Americans that while the UAE understood the current policy from Washington, it was going to move to "close this chapter for good" and therefore would move to return the remaining 25 individuals by Sunday, July 20, according to the cable. He added that the Emirati government would seek assurances from the Taliban that their safety is guaranteed. It was not immediately clear if the remaining individuals had been sent back or the circumstances of the two families returned to Afghanistan. The cable and the return of the two Afghan families back to Afghanistan have not been previously reported. Trump, based on his Truth Social post, appeared to be out of the loop on the UAE's plans. The State Department, the White House and the UAE government did not have immediate comment for this story. Al-Zaabi told the U.S. officials that the two families were returned to Afghanistan in early July "at their request, since they were tired of waiting," the cable said. But two sources familiar with the matter disputed that account saying that the UAE government and Taliban's ambassador to the UAE were making Afghan families at the Emirates Humanitarian City choose between signing a 'voluntary' deportation letter to Afghanistan or being arrested to be forcefully deported to the country on Monday. The cable also said Al-Zaabi asked the U.S. to coordinate "perception management" to ensure Washington and Abu Dhabi were aligned on their messaging on the topic as the UAE did not want criticism from the NGOs "due to the inability of the United States to resettle the population in the United States or elsewhere." The fate of the more than 30 Afghan evacuees and how the administration handles their cases is crucial for the future of another 1,500 Afghan men, women and children who have been stuck in a similar facility in Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar. Former President Joe Biden's administration, since its chaotic U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, has brought nearly 200,000 Afghans to the United States. Trump, a Republican who promised a far-reaching immigration crackdown, suspended refugee resettlement after he took office in January. In April, the Trump administration terminated temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans in the U.S.. Democrats have urged Trump to restore temporary protected status for Afghans, saying women and children could face particular harm under the Taliban-led government. Since seizing power, Afghanistan's Taliban administration has rolled back hard-fought rights won by Afghan women and girls during two decades of rule by American-backed governments. They have imposed limits on schooling, work and general independence in daily life. Refugees include family members of Afghan-American U.S. military personnel, children cleared to reunite with their parents, relatives of Afghans already admitted and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during the 20-year war. Advocacy group #AfghanEvac urged Trump to follow up on his post with action. "That means working to immediately secure protections and departures for the Afghans at the Emirates Humanitarian City in UAE and Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar and ensuring they are not deported back into the hands of the Taliban," the group said in a statement.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Group of refugee service providers hosts annual soccer tournament
Refugees from all over the world came together together in North York Saturday for a soccer tournament. As CBC's Naama Weingarten reports, for those taking part, winning wasn't the only goal.
CBC
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Group of refugee service providers hosts annual soccer tournament
Refugees from all over the world came together together in North York Saturday for a soccer tournament. As CBC's Naama Weingarten reports, for those taking part, winning wasn't the only goal.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Pope Leo XIV condemns ‘barbarity' of Gaza war as dozens reported killed queuing for aid
Pope Leo XIV has condemned the 'barbarity' of the Gaza war and called out 'collective punishment' as officials said dozens more Palestinians were killed queuing for aid on Sunday. The pontiff renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, asking the international community to respect international laws and the obligation to protect civilians. It came as Gazan officials said 73 refugees were killed after witnesses claimed Israeli soldiers and tanks fired on crowds queuing for food in northern Gaza. 'I once again call for an immediate end to the barbarity of this war and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict,' Pope Leo XIV said. 'I appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations.' Around 67 of those killed were gunned down trying to reach aid entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel, according to the health ministry and local hospitals. 'Tanks surrounded us and trapped us as gunshots and strikes rained down. We were trapped for two hours,' said Ehab Al-Zei, who had been waiting for flour. "I will never go back again. Let us die of hunger, it's better.' Israel's military said soldiers had shot at a gathering of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza who posed a threat, and it was aware of some casualties. On Saturday, witnesses said at least 32 Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops while queuing for food distributed by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The shootings occurred near hubs operated by the US and Israeli-backed GHF, which launched operations in May this year. The US and Israel seek to replace the traditional UN-led aid distribution system in Gaza, asserting that Hamas militants siphon off supplies. The UN denies the allegation. While the GHF says it has distributed millions of meals to hungry Palestinians, local health officials and witnesses say Israeli army fire has killed hundreds of people as they try to reach the hubs since May. The organisation's four sites are in military-controlled zones. Israel's army secures them from a distance, but does not operate them. Pope Leo also expressed his "deep sorrow" for the Israeli attack on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, which killed three people and wounded 10 others, including the parish priest. The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the Israel-Hamas war, now in its 21st month. Israel expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. 'We need to dialogue and abandon weapons,' the pope said earlier on Sunday, after presiding over Mass at the nearby Cathedral of Albano. Gaza's population of more than two million Palestinians are in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, now relying largely on the limited aid allowed into the territory. Many people have been displaced multiple times. Hamas triggered the war when militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage. Fifty remain in Gaza, but fewer than half are thought to be alive. Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry.
CBC
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBC
Ontario refugee agencies host soccer tournament to build community and friendship
Social Sharing Refugees from all over the world came together for an annual soccer tournament in North York this Saturday organized as a way to help newcomers build connections in Canada, and take their minds off the stress of being in a new country. The tournament was put on by the Ontario Coalition of Service Providers for Refugee Claimants, a group of agencies and refugee housing services that are located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), said, located in Toronto. Francisco Vidal, executive director of Sojourn House, which provides emergency shelter and transitional housing services to newly arrived refugees in the GTA, said the tournament "uses soccer as a tool to build community and promote healthy lifestyles." Participating in the matches also helps improve players' mental and physical health, he said. "Some of [the players] have not had their refugee claim hearing yet," he said. "This puts their mind away into something that can build community and friendship." Event an opportunity to share experiences Dany Abuela attended the tournament for the first time on Saturday. Abuela moved to Toronto from Ecuador in January with his family. They have been staying at Romero House, an organization that provides refugee claimants with transitional housing and immigration support. "We are happy. Canada is a great country," he said. "This event for us is very important because we can speak with the other people, know their experience." Tenzin Khentse moved to Canada from India in 2021 and now works at the FCJ Refugee Centre as a youth leader focused on preventing human trafficking. He said the event is a good distraction for those dealing with refugee and asylum procedures. "Football is something that everybody enjoys. It's something everybody can relate to, and it's a really good distraction, you just forget about your problems for a while," said Khentse. This year, Vidal said there has been "a lot of hype" around the tournament because of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — which will be hosted in Canada, U.S. and Mexico — as well as the story of Canadian soccer star Alphonso Davies, who was born in a refugee camp in Ghana before he moved to Canada when he was five years old. Soccer team is like a 'new family in Canada' Some refugees living in refugee houses do not have family in Canada, said Diana Gallego, the co-executive director of the FCJ Refugee Centre, located in York. "To become a member of a soccer team, it's kind of [like] 'This is my new family in Canada,'" she said. Gallego said she fled Colombia 21 years ago with her husband and her son. Her son played in the tournament on Saturday. "When we are forced to leave our countries, we do it because our lives are at risk," she said. "To come here and to find an open home and somebody that can welcome you is really important." The coalition has organized five tournaments since 2018. This year marks the first time an agency from Hamilton participated in the tournament, as a way to engage with refugess outside the GTA, Vidal said.
