Quito (AFP) – “It is possible that thousands of Afghans will not arrive in the country in response to a request from the United States government,” Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Mauricio Montalvo said on Tuesday.
Speaking to Radio Centro, the official said: “It was a possibility, and that was the opening that Ecuador had and he is in that state. It didn’t materialize… The North American authorities have informed us of this, and they thank us for the Ecuadorean offer.”
“The people who welcomed them have already settled in other countries,” he added.
President Guillermo Laso announced a week ago that Ecuador will temporarily host thousands of Afghans who will temporarily remain on their way to the United States and that their expenses are subsidized by that country.
To receive foreigners, a group of ministries have set up reception homes in the major cities of Ecuador.
Thousands of Afghans crowded into Kabul airport in recent days to flee that country after the Taliban seized control of the entire province, while major powers redoubled their efforts to help them leave.
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