Hat tip Nyheter Idag. Translation by Fousesquawk.
Just two days ago, I wrote a posting on the situation in Afghanistan and predicted that tens of thousands more Afghans were going to migrate to the West due to the deteriorating war situation.
Looks like I underestimated the numbers greatly. A German aid worker, who has long years of experience in Afghanistan, is predicting up to 3 million will be on their way to Europe.
Her interview with a German news site has been picked up by the conservative Swedish site, Nyheter Idag. We have translated their article below.
Aid workers warn: Up to three million Afghans will migrate to Europe
The German aid worker Sybille Schnehage, in an interview with German site WSR, warns that three million Afghans may migrate to Europe if the situation in the nation doesn't improve. Schnehage has worked with humanitarian aid in Afghanistan since the 1980s, and in 1994, founded the organization, Katachel, which, among other things, has helped establish 31 schools in Afghanistan.
"One can assume that up to 3 million Afghans will come to Europe within the foreseeable future," Schnehage says to WDR and continues:
"I always ask people: 'Why won't you go to Saudi Arabia, where there are Muslims, it is your culture. The answer is always, 'No, Germany is better."
"Yes, we absolutely must help Afghans build a future in the countryside. If not, the consequences for Germany and Europe are predictable," says Schnehage.
In the interview, Schnehage also says that lawlessness is a bigger problem for the Afghan people than the Taliban, and that aid organizations like hers can work with the Taliban in the areas where they hold power.
"I have operated girls' schools under Taliban rule. The foremost problem has always been security. How do we get girls to school unharmed? In the Afghan countryside, there are many young men without work and cannot afford to buy a wife. It costs at least 5,000 euros."
"Because of this, girls are often kidnapped, including on the way to school. The Taliban says that girls must be safe. If we can guarantee that they can get to school safely, they have no problem with certain education, up to about the 6th grade," says Schnehage.
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Schnehage raises good questions. Why are none of these people going to more nearby Muslim countries? The answer is they don't want to, and these countries, rich as they may be, are not accepting anybody. The migrants themselves prefer countries in Europe, like Germany, Sweden, or the Netherlands, where social welfare is generous.
Perhaps unintentionally, Schnehage also gives us reasons not to accept any and all Afghans-with the notable exception of those who assisted the various international armed forces who fought in that country. I specifically refer to the last two paragraphs in the translated article above. Is this really a culture we want to import into our free, democratic societies, still working to ensure full rights for women, gays, and minorities? Hardly. All we need to do is look at the performance of far too many young, unaccompanied Afghan males in countries like Austria, Germany, and Sweden.
Three million more Afghans in Europe? Wow.
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