38 local employees who worked for Switzerland in Afghanistan and around 200 relatives of these people are to be evacuated. So far no evacuation has taken place. The problem? Switzerland does not have its own transport aircraft. She has to hope for German or American planes.
These think of their own people first. So Switzerland could charter its own plane. This is an option that the federal government is currently examining. The federal government has, however, confirmed that a detachment of the Swiss army was sent to Uzbekistan, reports Bundeshaus correspondent Oliver Washington.
The foreign department writes on request: "According to the decision of the Federal Council, the defense department supports the foreign department in the evaluation and preparation of various evacuation options with army specialists. For this purpose, a detachment of the Swiss army was transferred to Tashkent in Uzbekistan. For security reasons, we are not giving any further details."
Switzerland has hesitated too long
The difficulties with the evacuations raise the question of whether Switzerland has waited too long to distribute visas. “We have to answer that with yes. But Switzerland is not alone in this. Everyone has waited too long, »said Washington. But that will have to be looked at more closely.
Because Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter's Department of Justice is responsible for issuing so-called humanitarian visas. Oliver Washington asked the Justice Department why they didn't act sooner.
The Department of Foreign Affairs hesitated for a long time on this question. But when it became clear that action had to be taken now, Karin Keller-Sutter, the Minister of Justice, did so immediately last week, the Justice Department replied. "Here we see a quiet political conflict that is responsible for the hesitation," Washington said.
Audio
What is Switzerland's position on the Taliban's takeover?
03:17 min, from Echo der Zeit from 08/16/2021.
Play. Running time 03:17 minutes.
The political parties have also made their demands, which differ widely. The SP and the Greens are demanding that Switzerland take in 10,000 refugees. According to Oliver Washington, the center and the FDP are also in favor of it. Only the SVP demands help on the spot, but firmly rejects quota refugees.
"If the international community comes up with such a program, Switzerland will not be able to avoid going along with it," said the Bundeshaus correspondent. But the question then is how these people get out of Afghanistan, considering the situation at the airport in Kabul.
Pressure on the Federal Council is increasing
According to today's information from the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, not that many have left Afghanistan overland, but the situation is unpredictable. "Exactly such people could be distributed within the framework of quotas," explains Washington.
The pressure on the Federal Council is increasing. Also with regard to the Afghans in Switzerland. Recognized refugees are allowed to bring their family members to join them. It's more complicated for those temporarily admitted - around 11,000 Afghans in Switzerland.
Their family members in Afghanistan are to be granted a humanitarian visa for Switzerland. In addition to Left Green, voices from the center and the FDP also called for this.
