Source: Reliefweb

For decades, Afghans has been fleeing out of the Afghanistan due to insecurity which was actually just a start of a risky trip abroad, where they sought asylum. Afghans are aware of the dangers, but also of the benefits that that trip can bring to them. Moreover, there is growing concern of what will happen after the international military troops withdraw from the country in 2014, causing more and more people to consider the possibility of looking for the better future far away from home.

A large number of Afghan asylum seekers arrive in Indonesia, thousands of miles away from their goal – the Australia, where they want to start a new life. Last year the government in Canberra announced that the number of asylum seekers increased by one third and largest single group were Afghans.

Many of them are young, educated and have a lot of working experience.

One of these young Afghans is Najibullah, who asked not to publish his photo.

“I want to go to Australia. Over there are my friends, classmates, they work there part-time, but at the same time they manage to study,” he said.

The price of this trip can be high up to even 20 000 dollars. However, many asylum seekers each year die from starvation or drowning as they travel hidden in unsafe boats.

“Despite the dangers that lurk on the sea, as the international military troops prepare to leave Afghanistan, the number of Afghans leaving the country is on the rise,” said the chief of Interpol in the Afghan Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Aminullah Amarkhil.

“A large number of Afghans perform tasks related to the international troops, from 40 000 to 50 000 people,” said Amarkhil. “They speak English and know how to use a computer. When NATO leaves the country, these people will lose their jobs, but not only that, for those who have served in the military or non-governmental organizations it will be dangerous to stay in Afghanistan.”

Three months ago, 15-year-old son of Mohammad Akram – Yahya went to Iran with his cousins. The boy came to Turkey and succeeded to enroll in the school of the United Nations in Turkey. However, afterwards Akram received a phone call from his son – “He did not want to stay in Turkey and attend school, but said that he wanted to come to Turkey just to be able to continue the journey towards Europe,” said Akram.

The following night was the last time that Akram spoke with his son. Yahya called his father to say goodbye and to tell him to pray for him. Akram later found out that the ship on which was his son, went missing, along with another 29 people who were on it. He still does not know what happened, despite having paid the government investigators.

“There are no results. It is a shame for them that they do not do anything for us… What should I do? I lost my son and spent all of the money to find his body,” said Akram.

Akram and his family are struggling to reconcile with the Yahya’s death. He said that the only remaining wish of his family is to get back the body of his son.