Posted in ICHRAPress ReleaseSikh AID
International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan
( Note: Situation is changing every hour. The below information is based as of incidents on 08/25 EST)
Dear Supporters,
Situation in Afghanistan for Afghan minority communities is grave as they try to escape to safety.
Our teams are working with a team of ex-military contractors and the US State department to help approximately 220 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus find their way safely to the international airport in Kabul.
Earlier today with assistance from teams on the ground an attempt was made in a caravan of 9 minibuses to make their way to the north gate of the International Airport which is under the control of the American forces. The initial attempt was unsuccessful due to skirmishes between American forces and the Taliban fighters. The caravan retreated to a temporary safe location. A second attempt was made in late evening and early morning hours to reach the North Gate of the International Airport controlled by the American armed forces.
The caravan, including dozens of women and children, came under gunfire as it approached the airport. At least one vehicle was hit but thankfully no one was injured. Unfortunately the caravan had to retreat back to a safe location around 2:00am in the morning after 18 gruelling hours on the streets of Kabul.
Throughout this ordeal our teams have been in near constant communication with members of the escaping Afghan community despite spotty signal and phone jammers around the airport.
Our team spoke a few moments ago to a member of the community as the new day arrives with another attempt to make it to the airport. In his words, “We are praying and hoping to make it safely to the airport with our women and children. The Shabad Guru is our protector. We have gone through hell in the streets of Kabul today. Never knew that a distance of approximately 7 kms will feel like eternity.”
The Taliban leadership has made pronouncements of not allowing Afghan citizens to enter the International airport which adds to the desperate and life threatening situation.
The local community is also in touch with the Indian government and other humanitarian agencies. Our team remains in constant contact with the community in Kabul as another attempt is made before the August 31st deadline for evacuation flights from Afghanistan.
We also want to extend our gratitude to the prominent Afghan Sikh leader, in the US, Mr. Paramjit Singh Bedi based in New York for his assistance with the mission to get them to safety.
The immediate objective being to get them inside the international Airport in Kabul to board next available planes to safe confines outside Afghanistan.
Please pray for those trying to find a safe passage and we hope to send you a follow up message reporting of their safe escape.
We appreciate your support for our mission in these grave hours and to assist the continuing functioning of our Afghan Helpdesk in New Delhi. You can reach our Helpdesk service for displaced minority communities at +91 98107 90373. E: contact@unitedsikhs.org
Thank you for your continued help for our humanitarian mission in Afghanistan
Gurvinder Singh
International Humanitarian Aid Director
UNITED SIKHS
Recognize the Human Race as One
