Our Last Hope is You

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New Zealand

Finally I am able to pass on some very good news about the three Afghan Human Rights Activists we have helped support in their struggle to avoid deportation back to Kabul and their Resettlement to a safe country. The three all now have an interview later this month with the Canadian Embassy to finalise the long process of checks to allow their flights and settlement to Canada.

Without doubt this campaign, it’s and donations has given them great hope as they waited and waited, unable to work and living on the barest of rations in one single room, still unable to see their wives and children.

Unfortunately they are still undergoing major hardship, behind on their rent and eating the simplest of foods. Again I ask if you can help with the crowdfunder campaign any donation you can provide will be really helpful at this time which we hope will be the final step to resettlement.

If you are new to the campaign here is further information about the men’s struggle to escape from Afghanistan and find safety.

I am a filmmaker who has made several films in Afghanistan. At the moment I am trying to raise funds for three Afghan Social and Human Rights Activists who were forced into hiding after the Taliban took over power in 2021.

The Taliban have put an iron grip on people’s movements, with numerous checkpoints and constant door to door searches looking for members of the previous government and anyone critical of their regime. After two harrowing years fearing for their lives and moving between safe houses, sometimes disguised in a burqa, the 3 men were able to escape Afghanistan.

Here is a 13 min video of the dangers they have faced. Warning: there are some disturbing scenes. Please do not watch this with children.

The men have not seen their wives or children for two years, and do not know when or if they will see them again. The threat on their lives was so great they had no choice but to leave the country. In September 2023 the three activists were helped by an underground network of sympathisers, and against all the odds managed to get through checkpoints to the border. They were able to exit Afghanistan to freedom, and landed in Qatar with a short-term visa.

THIS IS WHERE THEIR NEXT CHALLENGE BEGINS AND WHERE WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.

Through friends and a specialist charity, they had scrambled enough funds to pay for their flights to Doha, and one month’s worth of funds for very basic accommodation, food and phone cards.

Unless the three can attain refugee status, they may be deported back to Kabul to the terrible fate that awaits them. Their best option is to gain this status through the UNHCR refugee and asylum programme, with whom they are now in touch. The problem is that this process can take several months, during which they will run out of funds for basic subsistence.

THEY ONLY HAVE A FEW WEEKS OF FUNDS LEFT. This is placing a huge additional strain on their mental wellbeing after the trauma they have been through, as well as having had to leave their families and children behind.

I am urgently asking for your help to support these three brave Human Rights Activists, so that their basic needs can be met for at least the next 3 months with enough food, safe accomodation, and so that they can renew their visas.

Any amount really does help, as well as the men knowing that they are not alone in their struggle. I will give regular updates on their status and wellbeing, please do contact me if you have any questions as well any messages of support to the three that I will pass on.

[email protected]

One thing I learnt working and being with people in Afghanistan is their incredible hospitality and kindness.

Please join in with me to give this kindness back and help those in need…

Tashakkor-e ziyād

Thank you very much

Frances Mountier