..
‘Women remain in danger’: Female footballers dodge gunfire to flee Taliban-led Afghanistan as escape organizers slam US government
25 Aug, 2021 16:37
© Morteza Nikoubazl / Reuters
Organizers have voiced their relief after a 72-hour bid to evacuate female athletes from Afghanistan succeeded – but criticized the US government and warned that others are stranded under the new Taliban regime.
Khalida Popal, who captained the Afghan team following its formation in 2007 before seeking asylum in Denmark amid threats to her life, had warned last week that terrified female sportspeople – some of whom had actively opposed the Taliban in the belief that the group would not regain power – had sent her messages and photos documenting their increasing horror.
Players and teams from the country's relatively healthy female football scene had been advised to delete their social media profiles and do anything possible to safeguard themselves after the Taliban takeover last week – and Popal has been part of a team that has worked with six countries to arrange evacuation flights for some of them.
Former Afghanistan women's team coach Haley Carter, who was part of the daring mission, explained the ordeal the evacuees faced and was unimpressed by a message from US vice-president Kamala Harris claiming that her government had been working relentlessly to save people.
"Our players narrowly avoided gunfire, were trampled, beaten by the Taliban and waded through sewer water to get through to Hamid Karzai International Airport," said Carter, accompanying her account with shocking photos showing chaotic scenes in the Afghan capital.
"They went two days with limited supplies, camped three nights to survive. The situation on the ground is dire."
Carter said the team had used an intelligence network to "co-ordinate and share real-time information" on issues such as transport gates and "potential threats".
"I still can’t believe we managed to pull the last three-to-four days off," she admitted. "I also don’t think I can ever describe these events in a manner that does them justice.
"The bravery and resilience of our players, working until exhaustion, constant communications challenges and location tracking. Nothing short of a miracle. Truly. So proud of every person on our team."
When Harris attempted to offer assurances about the response from president Joe Biden's administration, Carter asked whether she had a "mouse in her pocket" – a term used to suggest that others are being volunteered to take action they should not be responsible for leading.
"The service members who are on the ground, from all nations and all services, have been doing an incredible job managing a massively difficult and chaotic situation," she observed.
"We should all be proud of them and their commitment to helping others in this humanitarian crisis. God bless our service members giving everything they have to this mission for the sake of others’ safety and wellbeing.
"That said, senior US military leaders should be held accountable for their failure to adequately plan and prepare for this.
"The evacuation of American citizens and high value Afghans is happening solely because of the grit, professionalism, and compassion of those on the ground. God bless Marines and the Strategic Corporal."
Professional footballers' governing body FIFPRO thanked the Australian government for accepting a "large number" of female footballers and athletes from Afghanistan as part of a group of more than 75 people flown out of Kabul.
"These young women, both as athletes and activists, have been in a position of danger and, on behalf of their peers around the world, we thank the international community for coming to their aid," it added.
A little girl evacuated from Kabul walks to her room at a temporary camp in Australia’s main operating base in the Middle East.
"We are grateful for the assistance of governments, military and human rights groups who are collaborating closely with us to evacuate women footballers and other athletes from Afghanistan.
"We are encouraged by recent developments. Our thoughts remain with all those still in danger."
Popal spoke of "sleepless nights" and "being on the call all the time answering questions", reporting that 75 players and "some family members" had left Afghanistan.
"[We were] handling media, motiving players to keep fighting and not give up even there were gunfires and they were beaten," she said. "It was tough. Teamwork. Work continues."
Popal is among a team of Fifpro lawyers and advisers who have worked with authorities in six countries, including Australia, the US and UK, to get athletes and their families on to evacuation lists and flights to safety.
"These past days have been an ugly reminder of the power the lottery of birth holds over all of us," said Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, FIFPRO's General Secretary.
"In the middle of this humanitarian crisis, I am so grateful to everybody on this unique team who helped to get the players evacuated.
"Two weeks full of genuine care, masterminding and incredible perseverance. We won’t stop here. Without representation these people can’t be saved."
The future of women's sport in Afghanistan looks bleak. "The work doesn’t end here, and we get back to it," pledged Carter.
"Many Afghan women and girls remain in danger and it’s vital to continue these efforts for as long as we can. All sporting bodies must continue the push to protect the women and girl athletes of Afghanistan."
We had ten years to get Afghan interpreters and their families out and we waited for the last 5 days. What a disgrace!
Canada's airlift mission from Kabul ends, leaving many behind
Government says it knows citizens, permanent residents and others are stranded
Catharine Tunney · CBC News ·
Posted: Aug 26, 2021 7:54 AM ET | Last Updated: 8 minutes ago
the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 24,
2021. (U.S. Air Force/Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/Handout/Reuters)
Canada's effort to airlift those fleeing Taliban rule out of Afghanistan has come to an end, says the acting chief of the defence staff.
A notice sent out this morning from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says that evacuation operations are done and "at this time, no further evacuation flights are being planned."
"The government of Canada recognizes that there are a number of people in Afghanistan, including Canadian citizens, permanent residents, their families, and applicants under programs for Afghans," said the notice sent to all on the government's list, a copy of which was obtained by CBC News.
"Until such a time that the security situation stabilizes, be mindful of the security environment and where possible, take the necessary steps to ensure your security and that of your family."
Yeah, right! Thanks a lot!
Gen. Wayne Eyre, the acting chief of the defence staff, said most of the Canadian personnel still in the country left Hamid Karzai International Airport eight hours ago, although a small contingent has stayed behind to support allies.
On Thursday, two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked Kabul's international airport, killing at least 60 Afghans,12 U.S. troops and wounding scores of others, according to Afghan and U.S. officials.
The Department of National Defence (DND) confirmed that all CAF members are safe and accounted for.
"The situation on the ground remains dangerous and CAF personnel are taking all appropriate personal security measures," said a DND media statement.
Eyre said Canada has helped to evacuate more than 3,700 people from Kabul.
Tens of thousands of Afghans fearing persecution under the Taliban, which swept to power in recent days, have rushed to Kabul's airport hoping to escape the country.
Numbers unclear
Among those seeking to flee Afghanistan are Afghans who worked with Canadian troops during Canada's mission who now fear retribution at the hands of the Taliban.
It's unclear how many Canadians and people who applied to come to Canada remain stranded. Officials briefing reporters this morning said they received applications representing 8,000 people and that two-thirds of those applications have been processed.
But they said they don't have a tally of how many didn't make it out. They said not all of the people who applied are necessarily still in Afghanistan and many might have fled to neighbouring countries.
"Their pleas and the photos of the families in terrible situations that accompany many of them are heart-wrenching," said Eyre.
"They tear at our souls."
U.S. withdrawing Tuesday
The U.S. plans to complete the withdrawal of its forces from the country on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said Wednesday that Canada needed to get its crews and equipment out of the country before then.
"As the Americans draw down to meet their deadline, partner nations, including Canada, must draw down our troops, assets and aircraft ahead of the Americans," he said. "These moves are necessary for the U.S. to safely maintain control of the airport until they depart."
The White House said Thursday that since Aug. 14, it has evacuated and helped in the evacuation of about 95,700 people. Britain said on Wednesday it has evacuated more than 11,000 people from Afghanistan.
Advocacy groups, families and those on the ground have reported problems reaching officials and have criticized the government for not acting sooner.
For months, interpreters and their families appealed to Canada to bring them to safety as the Taliban tightened its control.
The Canadian military was in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. Canada ended its combat mission in 2011 but kept soldiers in the country for another three years to help train the Afghan National Security Forces.
In 2009, under the Harper government, Canada offered refuge to approximately 800 interpreters fearing for their lives in Afghanistan, but the program had restrictive criteria.
To qualify under the old program, the advisers had to demonstrate they worked for Canadian troops, diplomats or contractors for 12 consecutive months between October 2007 and July 2011.
Two-thirds of the Afghans who applied to Canada for refuge were turned away, according to figures compiled by The Canadian Press.
The Liberal government announced a new temporary program in July.
The immigration department advises those with an application in progress to contact them by email at Afghanistan@international.gc.ca or to call 1-613-321-4243.
Gunmen release some students in northern Nigeria months after kidnapping
136 students, several teachers abducted from Salihu Tanko Islamic School in May
The Associated Press ·
Posted: Aug 26, 2021 6:43 PM ET | Last Updated: 36 minutes ago
More than 100 students and several teachers were abducted from the Salihu Tanko Islamic School in May. Authorities reported Thursday that some students had been released, months after their kidnapping. (Mustapha Gimba/The Associated Press)
Gunmen have released some of the children kidnapped from a school in northern Nigeria back in May, some of whom were as young as five years old, the school's head teacher said late Thursday.
Abubakar Garba Alhassan told The Associated Press that the freed students were on their way to the state capital, Minna, but added he could not confirm the exact number freed.
Authorities have said that 136 children were abducted along with several teachers when gunmen on motorcycles attacked the Salihu Tanko Islamic School in Niger state. Other preschoolers were left behind as they could not keep pace when the gunmen hurriedly moved those abducted into the forest.
Alhassan did not provide details of their release, but parents of the students have over the past weeks struggled to raise ransoms demanded by their abductors. There was no immediate comment from police of the Niger governor's office.
The release, though, came a day after local media quoted one parent as saying six of the children had died in captivity.
More than 1,000 students have been forcibly taken from their schools during those attacks, according to an Associated Press tally of figures previously confirmed by the police. Although most of those kidnapped have been released, at least 200 are still held by their abductors.
The government has been unable to halt the spate of abductions for ransom. As a result, many schools have been forced to close due to the concerns about the kidnapping risk.
After one abduction at a university in Kaduna state earlier this year, gunmen demanded hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom. They killed five other students to compel the students' parents to raise the money, and later released 14 others.
This is no longer an ideological struggle, it has turned into a criminal enterprise.
No comments:
Post a Comment