Afghanistan: Responsibility for staff

The safety of its staff is in the current situation the top priority of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. GIZ Managing Director and Labour Relations Director Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel says, ‘We are working hard to get our national staff and their families out of the country – if that is what they want. The German Federal Government has specified the regulations for the process.’

In response to the Taliban taking control, the German Government has simplified and accelerated the local staff procedure which has been in place for many years for Afghan staff. GIZ has informed the local staff about the various possibilities and is supporting the organization for those staff who wish to leave the country with their core families.

‘Until recently, together with its partners, GIZ has contributed to Afghanistan’s development. Our many Afghan colleagues have played a huge role in this process. It is now our responsibility to do everything within our power to get them to safety’, Thorsten Schäfer-Gümbel stresses. Due to current developments and in consultation with the German Federal Government, GIZ has suspended projects in Afghanistan for the time being.