11/28/2021 Cambodia (International Christian Concern) – At least 15 Afghan refugees have been granted temporary residence in Cambodia while they wait for a third country to grant them asylum. All of the refugees are employees of the Asia Foundation, a U.S.-based development agency, and were approved by Cambodia on humanitarian grounds.
Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, has established a working group regarding accommodation issues for refugees. The 13-member working group would be responsible for coordinating the authorization and accommodation of the aforementioned Afghan refugees who are Asia Foundation staff. According to Agence Kampuchea Press, “[the working group] is also commissioned to work with relevant parties on the process of transportation, health measures implementation against Covid-19, and selection of proper locations for accommodation.”
The acceptance of the refugees follows an agreement with the Asia Foundation that was struck three months ago following the fall of Kabul, in addition to an appeal from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The agreement with the Asia Foundation allows a maximum of 300 Afghan refugees to transit through Cambodia on their way to a more permanent residence.
