Rescue flights from Afghanistan: Ramstein is to become a rescue hub

The US base in Ramstein is to become the central hub for rescue flights from Afghanistan – because tens of thousands are still waiting to leave the country. In Germany, the first local employees are reaching the federal states.

The US rescue flights from Afghanistan are to be handled mainly via the base in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said it had “been agreed with the US that Ramstein Air Base in particular can be used temporarily for the transit of people seeking protection from Afghanistan to the US. We are thus increasing our joint transport capacities and relieving the airlift between Kabul and Tashkent.” “

Ramstein near Kaiserslautern is one of the most important military transport and cargo airports for the US armed forces in Europe. According to reports, US citizens and local staff from Afghanistan are to be prepared for their onward flight to the USA at the air base.

Local employees reach federal states

The Bundeswehr has so far brought more than 1,600 people from Afghanistan to safety during its evacuation mission. These are German citizens, Afghan local staff and people from a total of 36 other countries.

The first of them have arrived in the federal states. In Lower Saxony, according to the state interior ministry, the first plane with 190 people landed at Hanover Airport. A second flight with an estimated 250 people should follow during the day. The Bundeswehr drove a first group of 19 Afghans to Hamburg on Thursday. Several federal states had agreed to take in rescued local workers.

NATO appeals to the Taliban

The US Army flew by far the largest proportion of those seeking protection. According to the Pentagon, there have been 7,000 people since Saturday. According to the Department of Defense, it is unclear how many asylum seekers the United States will have to bring to safety overall. US President Biden spoke of about 50,000 to 65,000 aid workers including their families. Currently, around 6,000 people with valid papers are waiting to be flown out by US military aircraft, reported the US broadcaster CNN. The US armed forces want to significantly increase the number of people flown out daily.

NATO also wants to redouble its evacuation efforts. At the same time, the military alliance urged the Taliban not to hinder ongoing actions. “We expect the Taliban to enable all foreign nationals and Afghans who want to leave the country to leave the country safely,” said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg after a special meeting of the foreign ministers of the NATO countries.

German shot in Kabul

But the key factor here is security in Kabul and at the city’s airport. However, the situation there remains tense. For example, a German was shot injured on the way to the airport. It is a civilian, said Vice Government Spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer. The man’s life is not in danger. He should be flown from Kabul soon.

Two helicopters will soon support the Bundeswehr’s evacuation campaign. As a spokesman for the Federal Ministry of Defense said, the helicopters have already been loaded for transport to Afghanistan. They should be used there as soon as possible. Among other things, the rescue of individual people from “dangerous situations” or their pick-up from remote locations is conceivable. Overall, the helicopters were supposed to provide an “expanded spectrum of action” for the Bundeswehr on site.