Germany’s Eberswalde — Germany has left at least 5,000 ex-employees and their families in Afghanistan, a support network established by the German army said Friday.
German troops ended airlift from Kabul Airport late Thursday after evacuating 5,347 people, including more than 4,100 Afghans.
According to the Berlin Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the number of former Afghan employees and their families is unknown, but about 300 German citizens remain in the country.
“We estimate that at least 5,000 people (former Afghan staff and families) have been left behind,” Marcus Grotian, founder and head of the Afghan staff sponsorship network, told Reuters.
He added that at this time a key issue in expelling these people from Afghanistan is the closure of the German embassy in Kabul, which means that they will not be able to receive documents permitting them to travel to Germany. rice field.
“Other countries have begun issuing virtual visas and are at least mailing them to people to prove their identity as former employees,” Grotian said, suggesting that German authorities should follow their example.
He vowed that the support network would do everything to keep the rest of the staff and their families safe.
Germany said its promise to accept former Afghan staff was still valid after the August 31 deadline for evacuation from Kabul Airport.
The Taliban said the withdrawal of foreign troops would allow Afghans who were allowed to leave the country by private flight. However, many former Western mission staff in Afghanistan are afraid of persecution by former militants who occupied the capital within two weeks.
Alexander Rats
