Berlin, December 4, 2024 – With the premature end of the German coalition government, the Bundesaufnahmeprogramm (BAP), the federal admission program for particularly vulnerable people from Afghanistan, is also at risk of being discontinued. Last week, organizations involved in the program were informed via the coordination office that no new admissions would be granted until the end of the legislative period. However, terminating the program would have disastrous consequences for those seeking protection, leaving thousands of individuals in the middle of the process in an extremely precarious situation. There are still at least four months until a new government is formed, during which the program could continue. It is unacceptable for the BAP to end after admitting only around 3,000 people, despite an official target of up to 36,000 admissions.
The civil society organizations involved in the BAP, along with all other signatories of this appeal, therefore demand:
1. Further Admission Approvals
Decisions must be made on all individual cases that have already been selected, contacted, and repeatedly reviewed by the Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). Many of those affected have taken significant risks and incurred considerable costs in attempting to leave Afghanistan due to their contact with the German government. Under no circumstances should they be abandoned because of their participation in the admission program.
2. Fast-Track Exit Procedures and Maintenance of Support Structures
The evacuation of individuals who have received an admission approval through the program and are still in Pakistan or Afghanistan must be carried out quickly. The support structures in Islamabad, including the provision of housing and medical care by the German government, must be maintained.
3. Transparent Information on the Continuation of the Program
The Federal Ministry of the Interior and the Foreign Office must provide clear and transparent information about the continuation of the admission program during the remaining months of the legislative period.
4. Preservation and Expansion of Safe Entry Routes for Highly Vulnerable Individuals from Afghanistan
The incoming government must also establish safe pathways for particularly vulnerable individuals in light of the dire situation in Afghanistan.
Political changes must not come at the expense of those in urgent need of protection—people to whom Germany has already offered a concrete humanitarian admission perspective. These individuals must not experience another uncoordinated withdrawal of German support.
A background paper with more information about the Federal Admission Program is available [here].
Signatory Organizations:
- Afghanistan-Schulen, Verein zur Unterstützung von Schulen in Afghanistan e.V.
- Amnesty International Deutschland
- AWO Bundesverband e.V.
- ArtLords
- Bundesweite Arbeitsgemeinschaft Psychosozialer Zentren für Flüchtlinge und Folteropfer e.V. (BAfF)
- Bündnis Hamburger Flüchtlingsinitiativen (BHFI)
- Deutscher Anwaltverein (DAV)
- Innosozial gGmbH
- International Rescue Committee (IRC) Deutschland
- Kabul Luftbrücke
- Luftbrücke Afghanistan
- LSVD⁺ – Verband Queere Vielfalt e. V.
- medico international e.V.
- MISSION LIFELINE International e.V.
- move on – menschen.rechte Tübingen e.V.
- Münchner Flüchtlingsrat e.V.
- Neue Richtervereinigung – Zusammenschluss von Richterinnen und Richtern, Staatsanwältinnen und Staatsanwälten e.V.
- Patenschaftsnetzwerk Ortskräfte e.V.
- Reporter ohne Grenzen (RSF)
- Skateistan gGmbH
- Soziale Initiative Hamburg SI-HAM e.V.
- Stitching for School and Life e.V. – SSL e.V. –
- TERRE DES FEMMES e.V.
- Terre des Hommes
- Verband afghanischer Organisationen in Deutschland e.V.
- YAAR e.V.
