They shake the bars, beg the soldiers. From behind, children and babies are passed over people’s heads, into the arms of the guard at the fence. Civilians climb over barbed wire. The US armed forces are shooting in the air, wanting to push the people back.
There are scenes of sheer desperation that unfold around Kabul Airport. Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, many have feared for their lives. At the same time, the evacuation planes of the western states take off almost empty.
The great escape: Chaos at Kabul airport kills(01:31)
That’s how empty the evacuation flights are
For example an Airbus A-400M of the German Armed Forces. It started on Tuesday with seven people on board, 150 would have had space. The same Airbus of the French took off with 41 passengers. On the same day, a C17 jet from the Netherlands flew 40 people out instead of the possible 150.
Also this Wednesday: A Hercules C-130 started with 26 instead of 120 people, an A-400M from the Spaniards with 25, like the «Daily Mail»Reported.
Around 50,000 civilians are hoping for an evacuation around Kabul Airport. There is chaos: The Taliban have set up checkpoints at the entrances and, according to reports, only let foreigners through. And sometimes even these can’t happen in the heat of the moment.
Women beg for help
The EU states, the USA, Great Britain and Switzerland had announced that they would fly out their local employees with their families. “We are doing everything we can to evacuate our Afghan staff,” said a British ambassador in a Twitter message. Switzerland strikes a similar note.
Army helps with evacuation: Swiss special forces are sent to Kabul(01:54)
But in addition to the diplomatic staff, thousands of civilians want to flee Afghanistan. The video of a group of women pleading for help at a barrier to the airport causes horror on social networks.
Western states promised to take in a total of up to 100,000 refugees from Afghanistan. But given the current situation, the announcement seems more like an empty promise to many. (hah)