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When Meelad Usmani, 28, managed to reach the gate, a crazy crowd was squeezing through Kabul International Airport.
He is helping his brother Mashood and his wife Romika, who desperately fled Kabul after being captured by the Taliban on August 15. He held the couple’s two-month-old baby and pushed forward inch by inch.
“I don’t know what happened. We were separated in the chaos and the child was with me,” Usmani told Khaleej Times in the UAE humanitarian city in Abu Dhabi, where he temporarily lived after evacuating from Afghanistan.
His new wife, Vashma, has been stroking the sleeping child on her lap, completely unaware that her world may never be the same.
Last week, the UAE coordinated with the US military to evacuate hundreds of Afghan families. They are currently being held in the humanitarian city.
According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, more than 8,500 Afghan citizens transited the capital to the destination country, and the first batch of evacuees had already flown to the United States. To date, the UAE has helped evacuate more than 28,500 people.
Recalling the horror of the airport, Usmani said that he started calling his brother’s name, but his screams were drowned in the chaos as thousands of people like him tried to flee their war-torn country.
“I shouldn’t be there. I went to the airport just to help my brother and wife get on the plane. But fate let me fly with my child and my wife,” said Us, who works as a security officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. Mani said.
“I handed the baby to the US military personnel and managed to call my father-in-law. I asked him to take my wife to the airport. Maybe she was lucky. I think she is… we managed to board the flight and Arrived in Abu Dhabi,” Usmani said.
He and Washma, whom he married two months ago, hope that the rest of the family can join them as soon as possible.
“We will take good care of the child. But we really hope that she can be with her parents as soon as possible,” Washma said.
“Even if I earn a few thousand rupees, I will not leave my country. But now there is no peace or law and order in Afghanistan.”
The families interviewed by Khaleej Times shared stories of the tears and despair they shed when they left their home and everything they had.
39-year-old Saifu Rahman Kohistani and his wife Bibijan managed to escape from Afghanistan with their 13 children. His eldest son Mirwais is 23 years old and his youngest daughter is 5 years old.
“I’m relieved. I still can’t believe that we are safe,” Kohistani said.
“My eldest son is cooperating with the United States in their task force. We are sure that the Taliban will hunt us down,” Kosistani said. “We never thought that we would leave like this. But I will start a new life in the United States and work hard for my family in the United States.” He said, taking out his US green card from his wallet. He worked as a taxi driver in the United States a few years ago.
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Recalling the risks the family took, Mirwais said they stayed at the airport for five days without any food or clothing.
“We can’t bring anything. We don’t even have extra clothes. We just want to leave this country,” Mirwais told Khaleej Times.
Most families are related to the U.S. Embassy to some extent, where they worked as translators or clerks.
Anjana Sankar
Anjana Sankar is a journalist based in the UAE, focusing on stories of global conflict, immigration and human rights. She has reported on the front lines of the wars in Yemen and Syria, and has written numerous articles about refugee crises in Bangladesh, Iraq and Europe. From interviewing Daesh militants to joining the UAE army in Yemen, to earthquakes, floods, terrorist attacks and elections, she came out of the most dangerous conflict zone in the world without incident. With more than 14 years of experience, Anjana is currently an assistant editor of Khaleej Times and leads the reporting team. She often talks about women’s empowerment on a Facebook page with more than 40,000 fans.
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