A Prison in the Desert: Afghans Stranded in US Camp in Qatar Face Uncertainty and Danger
The sun beats down on the vast expanse of the Qatari desert, casting a harsh light on the makeshift camp that has been home to hundreds of Afghans for over a year. Camp As Sayliyah, a transit hub for vetted Afghans awaiting US resettlement, is set to close on March 31, leaving its residents in a state of panic and uncertainty. Despite the looming deadline, the US government has failed to inform them where they will be sent next, leaving Behnaz Jamshidi and her family, along with over 1,000 others, with no clear future.
“It’s a prison,” Behnaz, a 28-year-old Afghan mother, told Middle East Eye from within the camp just 24 hours before the planned shutdown. “We feel like we are forgotten. We have no permits to move freely, no access to the outside world. We live in containers, not rooms. This place is not for normal human beings to live.” Her words paint a stark picture of the harsh conditions faced by Afghans at the camp, who have been forced to endure missile interceptions and the constant threat of danger from above.
The camp’s residents have been advised to stay in their rooms, but missile remnants have fallen through ceilings and windows, causing damage and putting their lives at risk. The 20-year-old Afghan who shared his account with MEE described the US military’s attempts to provide shelter as inadequate, saying “they were not safe. They told us it’s safe… [but] Qatar was raining. Then the bunkers fell down… How is it safe? It’s not safe for rain.”
The US government’s decision to close the camp without informing its residents of their next destination has sparked outrage and frustration among the Afghans. Many have been waiting since 2021 to start a new life in the US, having cleared most, if not all, US immigration hurdles. Behnaz’s three-year-old son has spent half his life at the camp, knowing little of the outside world apart from the short walks to the facility’s cafeteria or the basic supplies distribution point. “This place is not normal,” she said, her voice filled with despair.
The US government’s policy towards Afghan refugees has been marred by controversy and inconsistency. The SIV programme, which provides special immigration visas to Afghan allies of the US military, has a backlog of over 180,000 people waiting to be processed. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s ban on immigration from several countries, including Afghanistan, has made it increasingly difficult for Afghans to secure a spot in the US.
The lack of a clear plan for the camp’s closure has left residents with no choice but to seek alternative options. Some have returned to Afghanistan using stipends from the US government, while others are exploring other countries for resettlement. Behnaz, however, remains committed to her dream of starting a new life in the US, despite the uncertainty and danger that surrounds her.
“I would prefer to go to the United States, because we were brought here for that promise,” she said. “I thought they’re giving us hope, [that] they will be transforming us to a good place to brighten our future. But now I think they’re the people who broke that promise. I see no difference between them and the people that are cruel to women and children.”
The US’s Responsibility to its Afghan Allies
The US government’s abandonment of its Afghan allies has sparked outrage and condemnation from advocacy groups and human rights organizations. Shawn VanDiver, the founder of #AfghanEvac, a US veteran-led advocacy group, has been vocal in his criticism of the US government’s policy towards Afghan refugees. “The president of the United States has said that nobody from Afghanistan or several other countries are allowed to come here,” he told Afghans on a Zoom call. “There are no secret pathways, no back doors, no shortcuts.”
Sean Jamshidi, Behnaz’s uncle, who came to the US at the age of four and spent a decade as a US Marine, echoed VanDiver’s sentiments. “I feel disappointed. I feel very disappointed in the fact that my brother… who ultimately risked his life [when] he lost 13 fellow guard forces that he was supervising. He could have been one of them,” he said. “These Afghan allies… [to] leave them behind the way we did, just ultimately, it crushes our credibility as Americans. And that affects other partners that we’re going to have to have in the future, or we already have.”
The US government’s failure to honor its promises to Afghan allies has serious implications for its credibility and reputation. The abandonment of its Afghan allies will have far-reaching consequences, not only for the individuals involved but also for the US’s relationships with other countries in the region.
The Road Ahead
As the clock ticks down to the camp’s closure, the fate of the Afghans at Camp As Sayliyah remains uncertain. The US government’s decision to close the camp without informing its residents of their next destination has sparked outrage and frustration among the Afghans. Many have been waiting since 2021 to start a new life in the US, having cleared most, if not all, US immigration hurdles.
The US government must take immediate action to address the situation and ensure that its Afghan allies are resettled safely and with dignity. This includes providing clear information about their next destination, facilitating safe passage, and ensuring that they receive the support and resources they need to rebuild their lives.
The fate of the Afghans at Camp As Sayliyah serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing refugee crisis and the need for the international community to come together to address this issue. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the US government must act with urgency and compassion to honor its promises to its Afghan allies and ensure that they are resettled safely and with dignity.