A Nation's Welcome: The Story Of Afghan Evacuees And Their New Homes

The evacuation of Afghanistan refers to the mass exodus of refugees from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in 2021. The US-led evacuation efforts began on 13 August, two days before the Taliban seized control of Kabul. Since then, tens of thousands of people have been flown out of the country. The Pentagon reported that the US-led airlift evacuated nearly 125,000 Afghans overall, with the US military evacuating over 79,000 civilians from Hamid Karzai International Airport. This included about 6,000 Americans and more than 73,500 third-country nationals and Afghan civilians.

The US evacuated around 125,000 people from Afghanistan, including 7,000 US citizens

The US evacuation of Afghanistan in 2021 was a massive operation that saw the departure of tens of thousands of people from the country. The US and its allies evacuated around 125,000 people from Afghanistan, including approximately 7,000 US citizens. This figure includes both those evacuated by the US military and those evacuated by other countries with the support of the US military, which was responsible for security at the airport. The evacuation took place as the Taliban advanced across Afghanistan and seized control of Kabul, causing a rush to leave the country.

The US evacuation effort was not without its challenges. There was a lot of uncertainty around who had gotten out and who hadn't, with an estimated 5,700 US citizens evacuated and around 300 still in the country. There was also a focus on evacuating Afghans who had worked with the US during the 20-year war with the Taliban, with a visa programme in place for these individuals. However, the process was confusing for many, and there were concerns about the security and privacy of evacuees.

The majority of evacuees from Afghanistan arrived in the US without visas, as "humanitarian parolees". This status left them without a clear path to legal residency and the benefits that come with traditional refugee status. The US government provided limited assistance for up to 90 days, but it was recognised that more long-term support was needed to help Afghans start over and integrate into American society. Nonprofit organisations called on Congress to provide billions in emergency funding to ensure successful resettlement.

The evacuation of Afghanistan was a complex and challenging operation, and the US and its allies were faced with difficult decisions and logistical hurdles. The focus following the evacuation turned to resettling and supporting the tens of thousands of evacuees, with questions remaining about the future of those left behind.

The UK evacuated around 15,000 people, including 5,500-7,000 Afghans

The UK evacuated around 15,000 people from Kabul in a fortnight as part of Operation Pitting, including 5,000 British nationals and more than 8,000 Afghans who worked for the UK, as well as their families. This means that between 5,500 and 7,000 Afghans and their families were evacuated by the UK.

Operation Pitting was the British military operation to evacuate British nationals and Afghans from Kabul, which began on 13 August 2021. The operation was prompted by the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan and the collapse of the Afghan government, which occurred sooner than intelligence projections had estimated. The evacuation efforts became more urgent as the Taliban encircled Kabul and seized control of the city.

The UK's evacuation efforts included the deployment of 600 troops to Kabul Airport to secure the airlifts of their nationals, embassy staff, and Afghan citizens who worked with coalition forces. The UK also offered resettlement visas to the Afghan Women's Development Team of football players. The 35 players had fled to Pakistan following the Taliban takeover.

The UK's evacuation efforts faced challenges, including the need to prioritise certain groups for evacuation and the presence of Taliban checkpoints that made it difficult for some individuals to reach the airport. Overall, the UK's response to the crisis in Afghanistan has been criticised by some, who argue that the government could have done more to help those escaping from the country.

France evacuated around 2,000 Afghans and 100 French people

France has evacuated around 2,000 Afghans and 100 French people since the beginning of the evacuation operation on 16 August 2021. This includes Afghan interpreters, human rights activists, journalists, and others who worked alongside US and French forces in Afghanistan. The French government has prioritised the evacuation of those who worked for the country, including translators, kitchen staff, artists, and activists.

The evacuation efforts were carried out through a series of flights to Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport, with the French government offering medical and psychological support to the evacuees upon their arrival. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for the Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry for Solidarity and Health worked together to ensure optimal conditions for welcoming the evacuees.

France's evacuation operations included not only its own citizens and Afghan allies but also nationals from other countries. For example, during one evacuation rotation between Kabul and Abu Dhabi, France took onboard Dutch, Irish, and Kenyan nationals. France also partnered with Qatar to organise a humanitarian mission, delivering medical equipment, food, and winter supplies to Afghanistan.

The French government has expressed its commitment to supporting Afghans who wish to remain in France in the long term. Practical and administrative assistance is being provided to Afghans with their asylum applications and residence permit applications. Additionally, France has emphasised its priority of mental health support for evacuees, particularly those experiencing trauma and psychological distress due to their experiences in Afghanistan.

The evacuation efforts by France reflect the broader international response to the situation in Afghanistan, with various countries working to evacuate their citizens and vulnerable Afghans before the Taliban's takeover of the country.

Germany evacuated over 5,100 people, including 3,600 Afghans

Germany has been one of the countries that have been actively involved in evacuating people from Afghanistan. The German government has been trying to airlift dual nationals and people who worked with them, such as activists and lawyers, out of Afghanistan. The German military brought a total of 4,587 people to Germany during its evacuation mission, including 3,849 Afghans, 403 Germans, and people from other countries.

Germany's evacuation efforts have not been without challenges. The first German evacuation plane left Afghanistan with only seven people on board due to the chaotic situation at Kabul airport. However, subsequent flights were more successful, with one German military plane carrying over 120 people. The German government has also been criticized for its handling of the evacuation process, including allegations of abuse of the visa process and a lack of flexibility in trying to save Afghan lives.

Despite these challenges, Germany has continued its efforts to evacuate people from Afghanistan. The German government has worked with NGOs to identify and evacuate at-risk Afghans, and by the beginning of October 2021, they had helped almost 26,000 Afghans come to Germany. The German government has also launched a humanitarian admission program, aiming to bring up to 1,000 people from Afghanistan to Germany each month. However, this program has been temporarily suspended due to allegations of abuse.

The evacuation of Afghans to Germany has raised questions about their protection status and eligibility for asylum. The German government has provided temporary residence permits for former local staff, their families, and other vulnerable Afghans evacuated to the country. These permits are valid for a maximum of three years and can be extended if the reasons for granting them still apply. Family reunification for those with residence permits is possible but only in exceptional cases, according to advocacy organizations.

Canada evacuated Afghans who helped Canadian troops

Canada has played a significant role in the war in Afghanistan since 2001, when it joined a US-led multinational coalition to overthrow the Taliban government and target Al-Qaeda. In August 2021, as American forces withdrew and the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, Canada participated in a multinational operation to conduct emergency evacuations from Kabul's international airport.

Canada's evacuation efforts focused on its citizens, permanent residents, and Afghans who supported the Canadian Armed Forces' mission. This included interpreters, cooks, drivers, cleaners, construction workers, security guards, embassy staff, and their families. The Canadian government announced a special program to urgently resettle these Afghans, acknowledging that many remained in the country.

Canada's airlift mission from Kabul ended on August 26, 2021, with the Canadian Armed Forces evacuating more than 3,700 people. This included Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and Afghans seeking to flee Taliban rule. The evacuation efforts were challenging due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight timelines, and the need to negotiate with the Taliban and other countries for safe passage.

Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized the urgency of evacuating Afghans who assisted Canadian troops, stating that they should be flown out of Afghanistan and resettled as soon as possible. While the exact number of Afghans evacuated by Canada who supported Canadian troops is not specified, it is included in the overall count of over 3,700 evacuees.

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