Hoping to flee Afghanistan: “Don’t know what will become of us”

While many states have already suspended their flights, the US is initiating the final phase of evacuations from Kabul. For tens of thousands, the hope of being able to leave Afghanistan is dwindling.

Time is of the essence for the tens of thousands of people who are still on lists to be flown out of Kabul. Most nations have already stopped their flights, including Germany and now also Great Britain and France. The US is initiating the final phase of its evacuations.

More than 100,000 people have been flown out in the past few days. But tens of thousands are likely to stay behind – in a country where the Taliban are now back in power and even more radical Islamists are already demonstrating their power.

Risk of civil war

The attack in front of the airport had clearly shown that the West is hardly in a position in Afghanistan to control which terror groups would establish themselves there, says terrorism expert Peter Neumann in an interview with CNN: “There is a great risk that in Afghanistan turmoil could continue to prevail, similar to a civil war, where anarchy and constant chaos reign. A breeding ground for terrorist groups that are even more extreme than the Taliban. “

Getting to the airport is becoming more and more difficult

It is becoming more and more difficult for the people who want to get out to get onto the airfield. Those who manage to get on armored buses often have to wait for hours in them because the Taliban will not let them pass and the risk of further attacks is enormous.

Malala, a student from Kabul, had to return yesterday with her mother and brother. They had been sitting on the bus for twelve hours, which should actually have brought them a little closer to freedom: “The US soldiers have the gates to the airport not opened, they say, if we open them, that would be exactly the time when the fighters would blow themselves up. “

“If I’m lucky, someone will pick up the phone”

Many people don’t even manage to get on the buses. Like Majid, who arrived in Kabul with his family days ago from Mazar-i-Sharif. He had worked as a translator for the German Armed Forces, then he became head of the airport that the Germans helped set up in Mazar-i-Sharif.

His hope is getting smaller every day that he can still reach an Airlift plane: “I call the German immigration authorities and the diplomatic mission responsible for evacuations five times a day. If I’m lucky, lifts sometimes someone from the phone. ” Then tell someone to wait. “I am hoping every second that you will say the evacuation can take place now. We only have three days left. We can only sit here and wait. I don’t know what will become of us.”

In the past, Majid was responsible for controlling all flights that took off from Mazar-e Sharif. Now he cannot even organize a place on a plane for himself and his family that would bring them all to safety.