ドイツ発（datelined Germany）： Taliban press on after seizing key cities

２０２１年８月１４日（Sat.）13:45UP   ：　　　アフガニスタンの問題も非常に気になりますが、国連は動けないのでしょうか。このままではタリバン勢力によって何が行われるのか、心配が募ります。（ニュースソース：　DWーDE   ８月１３日発　）

＜原文の一部＞

Afghanistan: Taliban press on after seizing key cities

With the Taliban capturing Afghanistan's second- and third-largest cities, more than half of regional capitals have fallen. Several countries are now temporarily closing their embassies and withdrawing staff.

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The fighting has displaced over 10,300 people in the last month alone — with many seeking safety in Kabul

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• US embassy Kabul orders staff to prepare for "drawdown"
• UN Secretary General Guterres says "Afghanistan is spinning out of control"
• NATO is "deeply concerned" — Stoltenberg
• Germany says it will reduce Kabul embassy staff to "absolute minimum"
• Denmark and Norway announce they will close Kabul embassies
• Afghanistan's second-largest city, Kandahar, has fallen to the Taliban
• The insurgents also control much of the third-largest city, Herat, and the key city of Ghazni

These live updates are now closed. For more on the Taliban offensive, click here

What happened today in Afghanistan?

The US State Department announced a "drawdown" of the US embassy in Kabul on Friday. Employees were ordered to incinerate any sensitive documents or equipment, especially anything with "embassy or agency logos, American flags or items which could be misused in propaganda efforts".

At the same time, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Kabul was not currently under "imminent threat" of falling to the Taliban.

This as Denmark and Norway announced the temporary closure of their embassies in the Afghan capital, and Finland announced it would be evacuating local Afghan hires and their families. Germanytoo said it would reduce its staff to the bare minimum.

With more than half of Afghanistan's districts now under Taliban control, including the cities of Kandahar and Herat as of Thursday, NATO convened an emergency meeting Friday. Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emerged after to say he was "deeply concerned" about the situation.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on the Taliban to halt their offensive and return to the negotiating table. He noted, "Afghanistan is spinning out of control."

Canada will resettle 20,000 vulnerable Afghans

Canada's immigration minister, Marco Mendicino, said Friday Canada will resettle upwards of 20,000 vulnerable Afghans, Reuters reports. 

Of particular concern are female leaders, human rights advocates, journalists, and members of persecuted groups such as religious and sexual minorities.

"As the Taliban continues to take over more of Afghanistan, many more Afghans' lives are under increasing threat," Mendicino told a news conference.

The news of Canada's latest resettlement effort is in addition to the Afghans Canada has already welcomed who previously worked for the Canadian government and their families.

（注：　以下、転載省略。　原文サイトは下記のリンクへ　）

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２０１２年にデンマークの農場に滞在していた時、デンマークからもアフガニスタンに派兵していることを知りました。そして死者も出ていることを教えられました。また、現地の孤児達をデンマークに引き取っている“弱者に手を差し伸べる“精神を実行していることも知らされました。

日本に同じことは出来ないとは思いますが、先の大戦で敗戦した国家として、また、多くの犠牲者を出したことへの反省と誓いに基づいて、日本らしい行動・言動が出来る筈です。どこかの従属国であるかのような政権の言動ではなく、あるべき姿を毅然とした態度で示すことが出来る国家・政治体制をキープしたいものです。今は、そうではありません。

＊＊＊　下の写真は、記事内容とは関係ありません。

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