Capacities for evacuation from Afghanistan exhausted: US airlift now also crosses Germany

In Qatar, capacities to accept people from Afghanistan are exhausted.

Now the US also wants to use the US air force base in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate.

• The dramatic rescue operation for people at risk in Afghanistan * continues.

• The USA * has assured its citizens of rescue and is even using helicopters in Kabul.

• A German was shot on the way to the airport on Friday.

  The Bundeswehr also wants to use helicopters now.

Kabul - After almost a week of Taliban * rule, the dramatic rescue operation for people at risk in Kabul is continuing under high pressure: The US even had to send helicopters to the safety of around 170 US citizens from a hotel in the Afghan capital to the airport bring to. The Bundeswehr flew people to Uzbekistan again on Saturday night. Meanwhile, the criticism of the federal government's crisis management continues. Green chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock * accused Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) of failure.

US President Joe Biden *, who is also criticized for the rapid withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan following the takeover of power by the radical Islamic Taliban, secured the rescue of all Americans from the country on Friday (August 20, 2021) to.

"We will take you home," said Biden in the White House.

He made a similar commitment for the Afghan local staff.

But it is "one of the largest, most difficult airlifts in history".

Afghanistan: USA want to use Ramstein base for evacuation

How dangerous and chaotic the situation around Kabul airport continues to be was shown by the fact that US soldiers had to fly off in helicopters to bring 169 people safely to the airport on Friday. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the people were picked up from the Baron Hotel near the airport by three Chinook helicopters. The reason was a "large crowd" in front of the airport, it was unsafe for the 169 people to get through. The Bundeswehr also sent two helicopters to Kabul, which have since arrived there and should be ready for use from Saturday (August 21, 2021).

The US had to interrupt its rescue flights from Kabul to Qatar for over six or seven hours on Friday because the capacities there to take in people from Afghanistan were exhausted.

Now the US Air Force Base Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate is to be used as a hub for evacuations.

Since last Saturday, the US has flown 13,000 people from Afghanistan, according to Biden.

Almost 6,000 US soldiers secure Kabul airport.

Bundeswehr flies more than 2000 people from Afghanistan

The Bundeswehr has so far flown over 2,000 people from Kabul, the last 172 on late Friday evening and a further seven on Saturday night, as the Bundeswehr announced on Twitter. A German was shot on the way to the airport on Friday, he was not seriously injured. Another German suffered minor injuries near the airport, according to ZDF information.

"We expect the Taliban to enable all foreign nationals and Afghans who want to leave the country to leave the country safely," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday.

Several thousand people are waiting for a seat in a plane in front of the airport alone.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel plan to visit an initial reception center for local Afghan workers in Spain on Saturday.

In a telephone conversation with the Greek head of government, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the EU of a new wave of “refugees” if Afghanistan's neighboring countries such as Iran were not helped to take in refugees.

info
country	Afghanistan
population	38.04 million (as of 2019)
capital city	Kabul
area	652,860 km²
languages	Paschtung, Dari

People from Afghanistan should get a visa for 90 days in Germany

In Germany, Afghans who have flown out and who have not yet been granted a residence permit will initially receive a visa for 90 days, reported Der Spiegel.

Your status should be clarified during this time.

In addition to local staff, who are often already on the lists of the federal government, women and human rights activists are also flown out.

The Left called for family members of Afghans already living in Germany to be accepted.

In view of the dramatic situation, the Green Chancellor candidate Baerbock attacked the federal government sharply. "I see a huge failure," she told the Süddeutsche Zeitung, especially with a view to Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD *) and Interior Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU *). For months it had been clear that local Afghan workers needed protection. The left also spoke of a "total failure" of the Maas and other ministers. After the election, a committee of inquiry and a review of all foreign deployments of the German armed forces were necessary, said left parliamentary group manager Jan Korte of the Rheinische Post on Saturday. (AFP)

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