Storai fled horrific conditions in Afghanistan for hopes of a better life (Picture: AFP)
Storai Ahmadi had a busy life in Kabul, Afghanistan, working as a programme manager with Women for Women International.
After working her eight hour shift, she would go to classes to complete her Master’s Degree in business.
Those days are now memories, she says, almost three years after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Storai is one of thousands of Afghan refugees who arrived in the United Kingdom after the Taliban takeover ushered in a new wave of crackdowns on human rights.
She told Metro.co.uk: ‘It seemed like the young people in my family were going to university, school, everyone was busy with their work and education. Those days have now turned to golden memories for me and my friends.
‘Leaving Kabul was a difficult part of my life. When we arrived in the UK, the first three years were very difficult. The biggest challenge was finding houses ourselves – we were living in a hotel for three years with two small children.
‘Getting work permits was hard. I was lucky that I started working with Women for Women International again and supporting the programme in Afghanistan from here.
Storai shared happy stories of her time working in Kabul (Picture: Storai Ahmedi)
Most of those who worked with Storai fled Afghanistan. Some died (Picture: Storai Ahmedi)
‘But there are many other Afghans who left the country, like me, and were not able to find jobs. I’m in contact with them, and many still don’t have jobs.’
Storai’s story is not unique.
The Taliban’s crackdown on human rights in Afghanistan since 2021 has brought the country to its knees, with healthcare systems, women’s rights, and the economy all on the brink of collapse.
Thousands of Afghan refugees have fled their country, which was already torn apart by decades of conflict.
Around 120,000 have left after the US withdrawal from the country in August 2021.
Since then, girls have been barred from secondary schools, women are required to have a male-relative companion when traveling significant distances and to cover their faces in public.
Music is banned. Amputations, flogging and mass executions have been reintroduced into everyday life.
Thousands of Afghan refugees were evacuated after Kabul fell (Picture: Getty)
Prince William has visited hotels being used to accommodate Afghan refugees (Picture: Getty)
Women for Women International, where Storai worked in Kabul, has been forced to adapt their programmes to match the strict rules put in place by the Taliban.
Storai added: ‘Afghanistan is currently one of the most difficult countries for women due to political and economic insecurity, education inequality, sexual violence and poor healthcare.
‘The International Community must help Afghan women determine their destiny, define their rights and utilize their expertise. They have underdelivered on promises and responsibilities to Afghan women over the past year.
‘To sustain the women’s rights movement the International Community must address the personal and professional challenges faced by Afghan women refugees and human right defenders.’
Thousands of refugees from other countries, like Syria, have drowned trying to reach safety (Picture: Getty)
Safety is worsening in Afghanistan – leading to more consider fleeing (Picture: Getty)
Storai’s experience is not unique, but the eyes of the world have moved away from the ongoing refugee crisis in Afghanistan.
Keyhan, 25, shared his experience fleeing to the UK after the Taliban retook power, writing: ‘I can’t put down roots, because I don’t know how long I’m going to be here. It’s hard to feel like you belong when you don’t have a home.’
The number of refugees across the world is now over 115 million, according to UNHCR – the highest number in recorded history.
World Refugee Day, held yearly on June 20, celebrates those who have been forcibly displaced from their homes and had to rebuild their lives from scratch.
But even after finding safety abroad, it’s hard to acclimate knowing refugees have left their loved ones abroad.
Storai told me most of her coworkers fled Afghanistan, and one of them has died.
She shared a video with me of her and her coworkers laughing as they surprised her with a cake for her promotion years ago.
She adds: ‘I’ve watched this so many times. I miss so much each one of them and my home land. I feel like my heart is injured.’
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