The Department of International Relations and Cooperation says it will be unable to take in Afghan refugees whose country has fallen under the control of the Taliban.<\/b>
\nThe Department of International Relations and Cooperation says it will be unable to take in Afghan refugees whose country has fallen under the control of the Taliban. The government said it noted the overtures made to the country to consider receiving a number of Afghan nationals who have sought refuge in Pakistan. READ| Afghan central banker flees, currency plummets amid Taliban takeover \u00ab\u00a0The request is that they be accommodated in South Africa en route to their final destinations. The South African government is unfortunately not in a position to accommodate such a request. South Africa is already home to a substantial number of refugees and is seized with addressing their needs.\u00a0\u00bb The department added most of the refugees already benefitted from social assistance and free medical health programmes. IN QUOTES| World leaders react to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan \u00ab\u00a0In terms of international law, the well-being of the refugees is best served by remaining in the first country of arrival – Pakistan – pending their final destinations.\u00a0\u00bb The UN said it was bracing itself for a possible exodus of up to 500 000 more Afghan refugees by the end of 2021, AFP reported. It added while there was not a flood of people fleeing across the borders, it was working on plans for that to change as the crisis deepened.<\/p>\n