From: <>
Sent: woensdag 19 mei 2021 09:03
To: Huijts, Paul <>; SG <>
Cc: KAB-CDP <>; <>; DAO-AFPAK <>; PS <>
Subject: Request mission council Kabul on assistance of local employed staff
H.E. Secretary

—

General,

On behalf of the Locally Employed Staff of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kabul, I
would like to draw your kind attention to the attached memo.
Looking forward to hear your compassionate decision.
Best Regards,
Chairman of the Mission Council
Kabul Afghanistan

Kingdom of the Netherlands

REQUESTING DECISION

To
From
Via
Cc
Approved by

Secretary General
Kabul Mission Council

Date
‘lay Ii, 2021

Our reference

KAB-CDP
Drawn up by
fri ,ssn Co,, ,c,i Kabul
T

memo
H.E. Secretary

-

Kabul Locally Employed Staff assistance
Hardship clause LSR2020 art. 1.9

General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

The locally employed staff of the Netherlands Embassy in Kabul noticed with
satisfaction the efforts undertaken by the management team of the embassy for
bringing the position of the local staff under the attention of your esteemed Ministry.
It concerns the safety of the local staff and their family members in case the Taliban
comes back to power in Afghanistan after the departure of US and NATO troops in
the 3 or 4°’ quarter of 2021. This coLlid be through a power-sharing deal as
outcome of the negotiations, but also through force as we see the Taliban is already
gaining influence and there are many targeted killings taking place in Afghanistan.
The Talibari has publically stated that all Afghan nationals who work or have worked
for the government, NATO and embassies are considered spies and are legitimate
targets of the Taliban. In that case we fear for our lives and the lives of our family
members that depend on us.
We are pleased to see that different missions and our embassy management team
indicated they are considering our request and have listened to our concerns.
With things moving forward, delegations from The Hague that have visited the
embassy have stated that according to the LSR2O2O the definition of family
members (art. 1.1 1.) is restricted to:
an employee’s partner and dependent children.
The definition of dependent children (art. 1.1 h.) is:
the children of an employee or an employee’s partner, including adopted
children and stepchildren, who are under the age of 18 and for whom the
employee bears full financial responsibility or more than half of the financial
responsibility.
-

-

However in the context of Afghanistan many family members live with the employee
and they are financially fully dependent on the income of the employee. This
concerns for instance brothers, sisters and parents. More importantly so, as they
live in our houses they run the same risk from the Taliban as the employees
themselves. The Taliban makes no distinction. In case we have no other option than
to evacuate, we can’t leave those family members behind.

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Ruest:

Date

May 11, 2021

The locally employed staff of the embassy have asked the Mission Council to address
to you the request to apply the Hardship Clause art. 1.9 of the LSR 2020, where it
concerns the definition of ‘family members’ and ‘children’, so that all those relatives
living with the employee under one roof and for whom they bear full or more than
50% financial responsibility, will be considered as part of the family.

Our refererce

In case the embassy offers an evacuation option to the local staff these extended
family members should be considered for evacuation with the employee as well.

As loyal employees of the embassy many of us working here for up to 18 years, and
the Ministry being a good and trustworthy employer, we hope you will positively
consider our plea.

On behalf of the Mission Council of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Kabul,
Sincerel’)

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