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Middlesbrough couple stuck in Kabul fear giving in to Taliban | Middlesbrough couple stuck in Kabul fear giving in to Taliban |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Ahmed said he fled Afghanistan more than 20 years ago to escape the Taliban regime but had returned to visit relatives | Ahmed said he fled Afghanistan more than 20 years ago to escape the Taliban regime but had returned to visit relatives |
A former Afghan refugee who lives in Middlesbrough has told how he is trapped in Kabul after his flight home from visiting relatives was cancelled amid the Taliban takeover. | A former Afghan refugee who lives in Middlesbrough has told how he is trapped in Kabul after his flight home from visiting relatives was cancelled amid the Taliban takeover. |
Ahmed, now a British citizen, is in hiding and said pleas to the Foreign Office for help had been "ignored". | Ahmed, now a British citizen, is in hiding and said pleas to the Foreign Office for help had been "ignored". |
He said he had run out of money and would have to hand himself to the Taliban if he did not get help soon. | He said he had run out of money and would have to hand himself to the Taliban if he did not get help soon. |
The Foreign Office said it continued to do all it could to secure safe passage. | |
Ahmed, not his real name, said he was in hiding with his wife. | Ahmed, not his real name, said he was in hiding with his wife. |
He said he fled Afghanistan to the UK more than 20 years ago to escape the Taliban regime but had returned three months ago to visit relatives. | He said he fled Afghanistan to the UK more than 20 years ago to escape the Taliban regime but had returned three months ago to visit relatives. |
He said he had been told only Afghans who had helped the Allied Forces were allowed to leave. | He said he had been told only Afghans who had helped the Allied Forces were allowed to leave. |
Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, said he was trying to assist Ahmed, and other constituents stuck in Afghanistan. | Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough, said he was trying to assist Ahmed, and other constituents stuck in Afghanistan. |
"We continue to press the government to do everything in its power to help all the British nationals who have as yet been unable to leave Afghanistan," he said. | "We continue to press the government to do everything in its power to help all the British nationals who have as yet been unable to leave Afghanistan," he said. |
Ahmed said he was turned away from Kabul Airport despite having a British passport | Ahmed said he was turned away from Kabul Airport despite having a British passport |
Ahmed said every day he and his wife witnessed people being attacked by the Taliban. | Ahmed said every day he and his wife witnessed people being attacked by the Taliban. |
"If we don't get help any sooner, we don't know what to do, maybe we just hand over ourselves to the Taliban and they do whatever they want to do," he said. | "If we don't get help any sooner, we don't know what to do, maybe we just hand over ourselves to the Taliban and they do whatever they want to do," he said. |
"We are just stuck here, scared, every day in front of us in the street the Taliban is attacking people, killing people, and putting them in the car and taking them." | "We are just stuck here, scared, every day in front of us in the street the Taliban is attacking people, killing people, and putting them in the car and taking them." |
Ahmed said he was unable to book another flight home before the Taliban regained power and was told to go to the airport by the Foreign Office. | Ahmed said he was unable to book another flight home before the Taliban regained power and was told to go to the airport by the Foreign Office. |
"Because it was crowded, there were too many people there, thousands and thousands of people, I couldn't see any British Army," he said. | "Because it was crowded, there were too many people there, thousands and thousands of people, I couldn't see any British Army," he said. |
He said he was beaten by Taliban soldiers who broke his arm. | He said he was beaten by Taliban soldiers who broke his arm. |
He said he also knew of seven other families from Middlesbrough who had been unable to get on a flight. | He said he also knew of seven other families from Middlesbrough who had been unable to get on a flight. |
Ahmed also tried to reach British forces at Kabul airport on the day a suicide bomber killed 60 people. | Ahmed also tried to reach British forces at Kabul airport on the day a suicide bomber killed 60 people. |
'Really sick now' | 'Really sick now' |
He said friends had tried to send him money but he had been unable to access his bank account. | He said friends had tried to send him money but he had been unable to access his bank account. |
"I am really sick now, I do not know what to do," he said. | "I am really sick now, I do not know what to do," he said. |
"I contacted the Foreign Office many times - they just say, 'wait, wait, and don't do anything'. | "I contacted the Foreign Office many times - they just say, 'wait, wait, and don't do anything'. |
"We are just stuck here, scared, every day in front of us in the street the Taliban is attacking people killing people and putting them in the car and taking them. | "We are just stuck here, scared, every day in front of us in the street the Taliban is attacking people killing people and putting them in the car and taking them. |
"There is no hiding place any more, I do not know what to do, we are just stuck here." | "There is no hiding place any more, I do not know what to do, we are just stuck here." |
Ahmed said he believed the UK government had not done enough to help him and other British citizens still trapped. | Ahmed said he believed the UK government had not done enough to help him and other British citizens still trapped. |
"First I had a feeling we can get out of this situation because we are a British citizen, I used to hear that the government would do anything to get you out of this country but now I get very hopeless. | "First I had a feeling we can get out of this situation because we are a British citizen, I used to hear that the government would do anything to get you out of this country but now I get very hopeless. |
"I just think I can't get out of here. I just feel scared and sad for myself, my wife and my other friends, for everyone and they don't know what to do." | "I just think I can't get out of here. I just feel scared and sad for myself, my wife and my other friends, for everyone and they don't know what to do." |
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was in contact with British nationals and others it was trying to help. | |
A spokesperson said: "We have been clear that the Taliban must allow safe passage for those who want to leave. | |
"We will continue to do all we can to secure safe passage and deliver on our obligation to get British nationals and eligible Afghans out of the country." | |
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |
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