500,000 Afghan Refugees Could Flee This Year – UN

The United Nations says half a million refugees could flee Afghanistan by the end of this year, as the UK drew its civilian evacuation to a close.

The warning was issued by the organisation on Friday ahead of the final withdrawal of US troops by August 31, after which the country is expected to descend into further violence and instability.

While the humanitarian emergency is currently contained within Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told reporters it was preparing for a worst-case scenario of “around 500,000 new refugees in the region”.

It came as Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, announced on Friday morning that UK evacuation had entered its final stages and admitted that approximately 1,000 Afghans eligible to come to Britain may not “make it” in time.

Confirming that processing facilities at the Baron Hotel, outside the capital’s airport, had been closed, he added that he felt “deep regret” that not everyone eligible had been evacuated.

While almost 14,000 people have been evacuated through Operation Pitting, the number remaining in Afghanistan is thought to include between 800 and 1,100 Afghans, as well as 100 to 150 Britons.

Among the Afghans left behind are believed to be a number of interpreters who assisted British forces during the conflict, including one who worked with Tom Tugendhat MP, the chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, who served in Afghanistan.