Afghan Refugees in Qatar Launch Hunger Strike Over Delays in U.S. Resettlement

Afghan Refugees in Qatar Launch Hunger Strike Over Delays in U.S. Resettlement
…………..

Afghan refugees housed at a U.S.-run camp in Qatar have begun a hunger strike to protest prolonged delays in their resettlement to the United States, Khaama Press reported. Refugees at the Al-Sayliyah facility say they have spent years in uncertainty, with no clear information about their legal status or when they will be transferred, describing the conditions as akin to detention.

According to individuals inside the camp, frustration has escalated sharply, leading a group to start the protest late Sunday. They said the strike will continue until U.S. authorities provide clarity on their future. Several women participating in the hunger strike have reportedly been hospitalized due to the combination of extreme heat and lack of food.

Many of the evacuees were relocated to Qatar in 2021 following the fall of Kabul, having worked with Western forces or international organizations. Around 1,300 Afghans were moved to the former U.S. military base in Al-Sayliyah under the large-scale evacuation that followed the Taliban’s return to power. Refugees say processing was initially expected to be quick but has instead stalled under shifting U.S. immigration policies.

Advocacy groups warn that the prolonged uncertainty is causing serious emotional strain on evacuees who believed they would receive protection because of their previous cooperation with Western governments. Similar U.S.-affiliated processing centers in Abu Dhabi and Albania are also hosting Afghans still waiting for relocation decisions.