PHNOM PENH: Fifteen Afghan refugees working as staff for ‘The Asia Foundation’ in the United States have arrived in Cambodia along with their families on Tuesday night. The Ministry of Interior confirms that more Afghans are expected to come. The Royal Government is preparing a building for their temporary stay before going to a country they can live for a longer period of time.

Prime Minister Hun Sen has authorized the creation of a working group to receive and guide the refugees during their stay in the kingdom on Monday. The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan has started in August this year, when Taliban’s Islamic State has taken control of Kabul, replacing the American endorsed government that was ruling the country.

When President Joe Biden ordered to withdrawn American troops in the country, an unprecedent changes of the political scenery happened. In just a day, the Taliban took control of all provinces, finally reaching Kabul and creating a huge mass of refugees attempting to leave the middle eastern nation.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has shown its diplomacy, accepting the Afghans working as staff for the US Asia Foundation.The first group of Afghans refugees landed in Phnom Penh International on Tuesday night, with more expected to come. The government’s group will be consisted of 13 members headed by Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior, Sok Phal, and Director General of the General Department of Immigration, Kiet Chantharith, as the permanent vice chairman.

The General Department of Immigration has also assigned officials to cooperate with the staff of the Asia Foundation as well as the Department of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime and the Department of Private Security of the National Police General Commission. They will facilitate on the arrival of the Afghan refugees with Covid-19 safety protocols and transportation. The Immigration Department has also selected a condominium one kilometre near the airport as a place to accommodate all US Asia Foundation staff.