City family in desperate plea to help their relatives left in Afghanistan
UNCLE AMONG THOSE INJURED IN KABUL SUICIDE BOMB BLAST
A NOTTINGHAM family who managed to escape Afghanistan are calling on the Government to continue repatriation efforts after a relative was “severely wounded” in the Kabul bombings.
On August 19 the Post spoke to Nargas Ziahe, 24, a British citizen who lives in Hyson Green, after she became trapped in Kabul with her brother Omar, five, sister, Asma, aged nine, and their mother.
They had initially flown out around six weeks earlier, following the death of a family member and to visit their poorly grandfather, but quickly became caught up in the rapid Taliban takeover alongside thousands of other people.
Fortunately, with the help of Mellers Primary School headteacher, Amanda Dawson, who worked with Nottingham South MP Lilian Greenwood, they managed to board a military flight out of the country.
The four of them landed in Birmingham last Monday, but a number of extended family members remained trapped.
British troops have now pulled out of the country as the evacuation operation came to an end over the weekend.
General Sir Nick Carter, the British Armed Forces chief, spoke to Sky News to reveal that the operation was in the final stages amid the growing threat of terrorism. This acute threat has already been made very evident after a bomb went off at a gate to Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, killing just under 200 people and injuring countless others. One of those injured in the blast, suspected to be a suicide bombing carried out by ISIS-K, was Ms Ziahe’s uncle.
He is now recovering in hospital after being “severely wounded”. As a result Ms Dawson and Ms Ziahe have spoken to the Post to call upon the Government to continue the evacuation operations. Ms Ziahe said: “I’m very stressed about them. They are still in Afghanistan waiting for authorisation from the Home Office. “They were near the gate [to the Baron Hotel] but they have been pushed back from there. “They found a safe place to stay but still have hope they may receive an email so they can go, as they aren’t allowed to go without authorisation.”
The bomb blast occurred near the Baron Hotel where British citizens and eligible Afghans were told to go and get their repatriation papers processed.
Just a few days before the deadly bombing Ms Ziahe passed through the area with her siblings and mother, having slept for almost two days on the streets.
While they were allowed to board a flight their extended family members, who now fear for their lives, were not able to go with them.
Ms Dawson, who says she is now in “desperation”, added: “We have not heard anything about the evacuation of Ms Ziahe’s extended family members.
“They came through with them to the airport. Their name was not on the list for evacuation.
“The family is frantic. I am frantic because I feel a sense of responsibility now.”
She added: “They are still there. It’s outrageous. They came in with Nargas but got kicked out.”
With the British evacuation, coined Operation Pitting, now coming to an end the family have become more desperate for news.
With the last civilian flight leaving this weekend, hundreds of British citizens and thousands of Afghans are awaiting repatriation.
In a statement to the Post, regarding Ms Ziahe’s concerns, a Foreign Office spokesperson said: “More than 13,700 people including British nationals, our Afghan staff and others at risk have been evacuated from Afghanistan by the UK since Saturday, August 14, in one of the biggest operations of its kind in history.
“We will continue to do all we can to deliver on our obligation to get British nationals and eligible Afghans out of the country while the security situation allows.”
The family is frantic. I am frantic because I feel a sense of responsibility now
Amanda Dawson