An Australian man whose mother and sister have been flown out of Afghanistan on a British evacuation flight says he is relieved they are safe, but warned other stranded Australians may not be able to escape the war-torn country.
Key points:
- The Prime Minister says 76 Australians and Afghans were onboard the UK flight to the UAE
- Among the passengers were a 39-year-old woman and her daughter, 11, both Australian citizens
- The first flight to bring those people to Australia is due to leave soon for Perth
The United Kingdom has given a boost to the federal government's Afghanistan evacuation mission, transporting 76 people — including Australians and Afghans with protection visas — out of Kabul on an overnight flight.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said they were transferred to Australia's military base in the United Arab Emirates for processing.
He said the first flight to bring those people to Australia — from the UAE to Perth — had been scheduled and would leave in the coming hours.
So far, the Australian military has conducted only one evacuation flight, although another could arrive in Kabul later today.
But several Australians and Afghans hoping to board future flights worry they will be unable to reach the airport because of Taliban roadblocks and the chaos outside its gates.
The ABC has spoken to a 19-year-old Australian man whose 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old sister left Kabul last night on a United Kingdom Royal Air Force plane bound for Dubai.
Supplied
)Both are Australian citizens who have requested anonymity out of fear of reprisals for extended family members who remain in Afghanistan.
"[It's a] massive relief," he told the ABC.
The day before, the mother and daughter had tried — and failed — to reach the terminal to get on the Australian military evacuation flight which departed Kabul on Wednesday with 26 people on board.
Frightening video obtained by the ABC shows the family sheltering by the airport fence as gunfire rings out.
The Australian man said his mother and sister were only able to get into the airport a second time after a relative sneaked through crowds and got help from a soldier inside the airport.
Inside, they were met by Australian soldiers stationed at the airport, before being ushered to a section where British soldiers were taking care of evacuees bound for the UK.
Footage shows them sitting inside the Royal Air Force transport plane as it flies out of Kabul.
Both the mother and daughter are now waiting for a flight to Australia.
"I'm now just concerned for other Australians," the man said.
"Seeing the chaos at the airport, I have no idea how they're going to get inside.
Twitter: Sudhir Chaudhary
)Several other Australians, and Afghans holding Australian visas have told similar stories about encountering violent and chaotic scenes outside the airport.
While the US military has now secured the airport perimeter and established a relatively ordered environment inside it, it exerts no control outside its border.
Some Australians and Afghans who have worked for the Australian government say they fear they will be arrested if they run into Taliban checkpoints set up near the airport.
On Thursday, some of those due to board Australian military evacuation flights received an email telling them to get to the airport.
New advice issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also advised all Australian citizens, permanent residents and visa holders to travel to the airport for a "planned evacuation flight".
"Take all extra precautions for your safety. Large and potentially volatile crowds may gather," the advice reads.
"Review your personal security plans and be aware of your surroundings."
However, Mr Morrison warned more flights would be able to land in Kabul only when Australia was granted landing spots at Kabul's airport.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australian officials were working with the United States and other countries to coordinate passenger lists and make it easier for Australians to make it into Kabul airport.
"We are working with our counterparts to ensure we have a staging area at Hamid Karzai International Airport for our Australian citizens and visa holders," she said.
"We continue to contact those Australians and visa holders and support them where we can to get through those checkpoints and into the airport."
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2021-08-19 08:03:45Z
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