Italy opens humanitarian corridor for 300 Afghan refugees

MILAN (AP) — Italy’s Foreign Ministry says the first of some 300 Afghan refugees have arrived in Italy along a new humanitarian corridor organized by the Italian government and other groups. Nine refugees arrived in Rome from Tehran on Monday, to be followed by another 200 from Islamabad on Wednesday and a third group from Tehran on Thursday.  Thousands of Afghan citizens were evacuated following the fall last summer of the Afghan capital of Kabul, but many who risked Taliban retribution were left behind. The Foreign Ministry said the corridor, which envisions transferring 1,200 Afghan refugees from Iran, Pakistan and other neighboring countries, would give priority to women and children.