Jose Maria del Pino
08/17/2021 18:00
Clarín.com
World
Updated 08/17/2021 6:00 PM
“I really appreciate your concern and support, but I prefer not to speak.
I am very afraid".
On the other side of the message is Zahra, a young Afghan woman who came to
Chile
more than 10 years ago
and today is studying medicine at the country's main public university.
Since Sunday, her friends describe her state as one of “shock” and her concern for only one, after the Taliban's assault on Kabul: her sister Zainab.
Zainab's story reflects that of many Afghan women who, after the American occupation, experienced
true liberation.
Over the past 20 years, the young woman married,
divorced
- which Islamic fundamentalism is drastically condemned - and began a vigorous academic career that led her to become a university professor.
All that way has returned to zero.
Hundreds of people have fled Afghanistan since Sunday.
Zainab seeks to reunite with her sister in Chile.
Photo: AFP
Request to the government of Chile
A group of university classmates and friends of Zahra activated this Sunday a communication effort to push the government of Sebastián Piñera to do something to help the family of this young woman, who is a permanent Chilean resident and, according to her friends, “has acquired a very special affection for the country, she is very comfortable and happy here ”.
The first to pick up the call were the directors of his study house and the former Chilean Foreign Minister, Juan Gabriel Valdés.
The Rector of the University of Chile, Ennio Vivaldi, and the former diplomat immediately took the phone to call the chancellor, Andrés Allamand, and tell him the story.
The government of Sebastián Piñera promised to participate in an international initiative to give refuge to Afghans.
Photo: DPA
At that very moment, the university communications team was making contact with the media to tell the story.
Zahra asked not to give her name, the first message that arrived spoke only of a “young Afghan student”.
As the hours passed, that became more flexible, empowered by the support that her cause aroused.
International Initiative
In the trans-Andean government, two ministers closely monitored the situation and made contact with the future doctor and her circle of friends.
The chancellor and the government spokesman minister, Jaime Bellolio.
Chile was already preparing a plan.
It was through a tweet that Allamand announced that
Chile would join an international effort
to evacuate leaders who defend human
and women's rights.
Over the hours, more information was added:
Chile notified the NGO “Front Line Defenders” that it is available to shelter ten Afghan families
whose members are threatened by the Taliban regime.
The triumph of the Taliban in Afghanistan is a disgrace for the world and a tragedy for women, who will see their individual guarantees overwhelmed.
The Foreign Ministry works with friendly countries and NGOs to help evacuate women leaders of human rights organizations from Kabul.https: //t.co/bGKRDNQZbh
- Andrés Allamand (@allamand) August 16, 2021
Social networks immediately began to ask: Will Zainab come on that flight?
"I am sure that, in a short time, the Taliban will get rid of me."
This is how drastic and dramatic was the audio message that, from Kabul, Zaiban sent to Channel 13 of Chile.
"They will make my life impossible," he added.
Complex rescue operation
The Chilean Foreign Ministry indicates to
Clarín
that there is every willingness to help Zahra's family and other Afghan women in the face of the human drama that that country is experiencing.
However, they explain that the logistics operation is not from the Chilean air force.
“It is Front Line Defenders who articulate the planes and see how to get them out of Kabul.
We said, we can receive up to 10 families and we want them to be female leaders ", they point out from the offices of the Ministry.
The problem is that, if the airport was collapsed on Monday, this Tuesday NATO forces no longer dominated the entire property.
"They tell us from Afghanistan that there is a sector of the airport that is already Taliban, which makes the rescue operation more difficult every minute," they add from the Foreign Minister's team.
For this reason, Allamand pointed out that they are "crossing their fingers" so that Zainab can come in one of those planes.
But there are no certainties.
The visa, asylum and the resources for their integration in Chile are assured, yes.
Clarín was
able to confirm that the NGO Front Line Defenders is already in contact with Zainab.
However, a possible departure flight does not yet have an exact date.
Just one attempt: Wednesday, conditions permitting.
The Chilean community, expectantly, awaits a happy ending for these two sisters.
For now, the resolution has ellipsis.
Santiago de Chile, special for Clarín
CB
Look also
"Will I be able to leave?", The desperate wait at the Kabul airport to leave Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Taliban less brutal, with amnesty and women's rights