The first New Zealanders have been evacuated from Kabul’s international airport, and four Defence Force soldiers are on the ground in Afghanistan.
The Government’s mercy mission to rescue an increasing tally of New Zealand citizens – 161 as of Friday – and Afghan allies in Afghanistan has yet begin in earnest. But one New Zealand family had been evacuated by a “partner government” to Europe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed.
Further complicating an already risky mission was a worsening situation outside Kabul airport, as crowds clamour at a Taliban checkpoint in hope of leaving the country.
In response to a “dire” humanitarian crisis, the Government has promised $3 million in aid to the Red Cross and United Nations Refugee Agency.
Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour, the Commander of Joint Forces New Zealand, said it was expected an Air Force Hercules deployed for the evacuation would fly into Kabul next week.
The Hercules, which left Auckland on Thursday, took off from Perth, Australia, on Friday afternoon. It was expected to reach the Middle East on Saturday and join the rest of the 80 rescue crew who travelled by commercial flights.
“There appears to be an improved situation inside the airport but a deteriorating situation outside it. Our aircraft will only go forward into Afghanistan when we’re sure the security situation allows this,” Gilmour said, in a statement on Friday afternoon.
He said four Defence Force soldiers were on the ground at the airport to establish a centre for New Zealand’s evacuees.
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“These four personnel will be joined by more in the coming hours. The personnel we have on the ground there are helping facilitate the processing of evacuees.”
All soldiers travelling to Kabul would be armed and “will operate under self-defence rules of engagement,” he said.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) spokeswoman said there were 161 New Zealand citizens and their families in Afghanistan that were eligible for evacuation, as of Friday. The number of New Zealanders had grown from 131 on Thursday.
The spokeswoman said Mfat would not confirm further details about the family that was evacuated from Kabul, for privacy reasons.
“Our ability to assist individuals on the ground is very limited. Access into the Kabul airport has become extremely difficult and travel into Kabul from the provinces almost impossible,” the spokeswoman said in a statement.
“We are also focused on the reality that the window to evacuate people out of Afghanistan is very limited, and we cannot guarantee we can assist all those we are seeking to evacuate.”
The spokeswoman said officials continued to assist the “small number” of Afghan nationals the Government has committed to resettling, due to their work or affiliation with the New Zealand Defence Force, police, aid missions, or Operation Burnham inquiry.
Members of a group of 37 Afghans employed by the Defence Force, during its years-long deployment to the country, have confirmed to Stuff that most seeking resettlement have made Mfat’s list.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, in a statement issued on Friday, said the Government would provide $3m for humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
“The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is dire, with millions in need of assistance and hundreds of thousands displaced by the recent conflict – 80 per cent of whom are reported to be women and girls,” Mahuta said.
“We also call on those in positions of power to ensure the rights and freedoms of women and girls are protected as this humanitarian crisis deteriorates.”
