Domestic Afghans in Albania rally, that's why

Some families currently located in St. Jean, a city 70km northwest of Tirana, called on authorities to speed up their transfer process to the United States.

With banners in their hands, they say they have been forgotten by authorities and have no explanation for their future, even though they have asked themselves to leave Albania. About 2400 Afghans were evacuated to Albania in August and September 2021, after the Taliban came to power, and provisional shelter was given in St.gjin and other hotels in Durres.

Thirty-eight Afghans who were temporarily sheltered at a resort in Shengin protested, as the manager of the facilities where they are staying has asked them to leave.

The lack of payment has been made on the part of one of the associations that finances their stay in Albania.

The United States and non-government organisations provided financial support for their accommodation.

Bledar Shima, manager of a resort in Shengjin that houses 350 Afghans, said the property has not been paid for six months. Shima urged the Albanian government to intervene to address this situation.

The Albanian government said at the time it would host thousands of Afghans for at least a year before eventually moving to the United States. Recently, the government pledged to hold them for more than a year if their US visas are delayed.

Albania's Foreign Ministry declares that nine hundred of those evacuated from Afghanistan remain in Albania. The rest have already left for the United States and Canada.