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Former Bundeswehr helpers at a demonstration in front of the German camp in Mazar-i-Sharif (in May)
Photo: Mohammed Javid / DER SPIEGEL
The last Bundeswehr machine with German soldiers from Afghanistan landed at the end of June.
Many local staff who helped the troops during the almost 20 years of service have stayed behind.
Some of them are now in great danger and fear attacks from the radical Islamic Taliban.
After weeks of criticism, the federal government has now announced somewhat stronger support for local workers from Afghanistan who are at risk when they travel to Germany.
The federal government wants to cover the costs of the flights and think about charter flights.
"I want us to give those who have helped us a lot a way out," said Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
"There are cases in which this help has not yet succeeded." She had campaigned in the cabinet for a pragmatic solution.
Discussions between the ministries
Above all, the Ministry of Defense under Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU) had urged to do more to support endangered, local employees who had helped the Bundeswehr in the country.
However, resistance came from the interior department of Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU) and the development department of Minister Gerd Müller (CSU).
Shortly before their departure, the Bundeswehr had quickly organized exit papers for a total of 471 Afghan aid workers.
As so-called local staff, you had worked as an interpreter for the troops for the past two years, for example.
Most of those affected have been threatened by the Taliban for a long time.
They are also allowed to take their wives and minor children with them to Germany.
According to the troops, an additional 2380 visas were issued for these relatives.
Criticism of the protection program
Critics consider the conditions for being included in the protection program to be too strict, and the organization of departure could also be improved.
The Bundeswehr soldier and chairman of the “Sponsorship Network Afghan Local Forces”, Marcus Grotian, told the editorial network in Germany: “I cannot put into words the moral failure that I perceive here.
A lot of cogs turn.
But they don't interlock. ”He therefore collects money for the local staff.
One of the criticisms of the current protection program is the handling of helpers from the Bundeswehr who were under contract with service providers and not directly with the troops.
The Afghans often worked in the German camp on a daily basis, but they cannot apply for the protection program.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, "the employer is primarily responsible for them" - and not the federal government.
In addition, it is unclear for many helpers how they can even apply for the program.
lukewarm / dpa
