Uganda on Tuesday announced that it will, following an agreement with the United States, be taking 2,000 refugees fleeing from Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

The refugees will reportedly be in Uganda for only three months before the US settles them elsewhere.

Albania and Kosovo have also accepted a US request to temporarily take in Afghan refugees.

According to Esther Anyakun Davinia, Uganda’s junior minister for relief, disaster preparedness and refugees the refugees will be coming in batches of 500 starting Tuesday, and some hotels near the airport have been booked for them.

“We have secured some hotels. We expect some diplomats. Upon arrival, we shall begin screening them to identify diplomats who will be taken to the hotels.”She said.

The United States will be covering the expenses of the refugees for their entire stay in Uganda.

Uganda hosts over 1.5 million refugees, mostly from neighboring countries including Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.

The Taliban has taken over Afghanistan following the recent withdrawal of US troops in the War-torn country. With the Taliban in control of Afghanistan, most countries are evacuating their citizens and shutting their embassies temporarily.

In the group’s first news conference after taking charge of the Afghan capital, Kabul. The Taliban has promised women’s rights, media freedom, and amnesty for government officials although judging by their previous rule, people are not taking any chances.

“I would like to assure the international community, including the United States, that nobody will be harmed. We don’t want any internal or external enemies”. Zabihullah Mujahid, the armed group’s spokesman.

https://www.kenyaforum.net/latest-articles/taliban-reign-tough-times-ahead-for-women-in-afghanistan/