German aid group struggles to evacuate Afghans who worked with army

On Feb 23, 2022

German aid group is struggling to evacuate Afghans who worked with army, like many other local staff who worked for Western governments.

Ahmad, a 30-year-old Afghan who worked for the German military, is now in hiding in Kabul in fear of his life. He was left behind when the International Security Assistance Force pulled out in August.

“I am sure, when the Taliban find out that I worked for ISAF, that will be the last day of my life,” he said.

Ahmad says his contact at the German Defence Ministry last called him in October that they will get him out, but then nothing happened.

Now, Ahmad is in touch with the Patenschaftsnetzwerk Afghanische Ortskraefte, a German private aid group trying to help people like him escape the country.

The group says it could evacuate thousands of former aid workers from Afghanistan if provided with public money.

A German army officer, Marcus Grotian, who was himself stationed in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz said, “Talks with government officials in Berlin on the issue have started, but are progressing slowly.”

He estimates some 12,000 people in Afghanistan could still be eligible to go to Germany because they worked for the German army during the international mission there, or fought for women’s and human rights in the now Taliban-held country.

The German government says it is doing everything possible to help former local staff leave Afghanistan.

Reuters