Berlin (AFP) —- More than 250 human rights groups and other NGOs on government Tuesday renewed pressure on the German to take in hundreds of Afghans stranded in Pakistan who had been offered sanctuary by Berlin.

The organizations, including Amnesty International, Save the Children, Human Rights Watch and church groups, urged the government to bring the roughly 1,800 Afghans to Germany from Pakistan before the end of the year.

Those affected must be evacuated in the coming weeks to protect them from deportation back to Afghanistan and persecution by the Taliban, the groups said.

The Afghans were accepted under a refugee scheme set up by the previous German government but have been stuck in Pakistan since conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May and froze the program.

Around 350 people on the scheme have been able to come to Germany after winning legal challenges against the government in German courts.

According to the open letter sent to the government by the NGOs on Tuesday, most of those left in Afghanistan are women and children.

“Especially now, during the Christmas season, we remember humanity and compassion,” the letter says.

“Therefore, we appeal to you: Finally bring those to whom we have promised protection to safety.”