Influx of Afghan refugees worries Tajiks
- 12 years ago
Life in Tajikistan, although fairly stable and calm compared with neighbouring Afghanistan, is not easy, especially for its refugee population which mostly compose of Afghans fleeing war in their country.
While already struggling to overcome the consequences of a civil war in which 100,000 people were killed 10 years ago, Tajikistan is the poorest state in the Soviet bloc and is ill equipped to accommodate the influx.
The International Crisis Group think tank has described it as a country on the road to becoming a failed state, yet it is the only ex-Soviet Central Asian country to officially admit Afghan refugees.
Official data have yet to be released but the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the number of Afghan refugees in Tajikistan is expected to have doubled last year to 5,000.
This year the number is expected to grow to up to 7,000.
Al Jazeera's Robin Forestier Walker reports on why many Tajiks see this influx as a threat to their jobs.
While already struggling to overcome the consequences of a civil war in which 100,000 people were killed 10 years ago, Tajikistan is the poorest state in the Soviet bloc and is ill equipped to accommodate the influx.
The International Crisis Group think tank has described it as a country on the road to becoming a failed state, yet it is the only ex-Soviet Central Asian country to officially admit Afghan refugees.
Official data have yet to be released but the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the number of Afghan refugees in Tajikistan is expected to have doubled last year to 5,000.
This year the number is expected to grow to up to 7,000.
Al Jazeera's Robin Forestier Walker reports on why many Tajiks see this influx as a threat to their jobs.