Last Updated: Friday, 19 May 2023, 07:24 GMT

Lithuania takes in Afghan migrant who worked for its troops

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 7 April 2016
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Lithuania takes in Afghan migrant who worked for its troops, 7 April 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5768fff16.html [accessed 20 May 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

April 07, 2016

Lithuania took in a young Afghan migrant who worked as an interpreter for Lithuanian troops in Afghanistan after he reached out for help on YouTube.

Lithuania provided Abdul Basir Yoususi with a temporary visa that paves the way for asylum for himself, his wife, and daughter, and had him flewn to Vilnius on April 6.

"I heard Germany has a lot of money, but I want to be in Lithuania. I speak the language," Yoususi, 22, said after his plane landed.

He said he never wants to return to Afghanistan because he received threatening letters after the departure of the troops he aided. That prompted him to set out on a two-month journey to Greece that cost around $6,500.

Lithuania has agreed to take in 1,105 migrants over two years under an European Union plan to resettle asylum-seekers among the bloc's 28 members.

Many of the million migrants who sought to enter Europe last year were from Afghanistan.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

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