Neamat Rahimi is safe, 11,000km from the tragedy unfolding in Afghanistan. He is endlessly grateful but still reeling from the trauma of what he witnessed in the past fortnight. fallofkabul afghanistan
A week ago, Afghan Australian Neamat Rahimi’s was avoiding gunfire outside Kabul airport. Today, he and his young family are safe in hotel quarantine in Epping in Melbourne’s north, 11,000 kilometres from the Afghan capital.
Mr Rahimi, who became an Australian citizen in 2014 after he migrated in 2010, had been trying to secure a visa for his wife, Fouzia, and four-year-old son, Mirwais, since February 2019. Fearing the encroachment of the Taliban, the Hazara tradesman, who lives in Endeavour Hills, flew to Kabul in February this year to be with his wife while they awaited the paperwork.
“Their parents are not there. The parents sometimes leave their kids behind because they have four or five more kids. They can’t take them all, they take maybe one or two, the rest remaining,” he said. The Australian government evacuated 4100 people before withdrawing troops completely this week. A suicide bombing on Thursday outside the airport by terror group Islamic State Khorasan — which killed scores of Afghans and at least 13 US Marines — marked the point of no return for Australia’s presence.
The 28-year-old is now in hotel quarantine in Richmond with his wife, an Australian citizen. He applied for a partner visa in 2019 which has still not been processed. He was able to leave Kabul late this week after getting an emergency visa, but he and his wife almost didn’t make it.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Joe Biden vows to hunt down terrorists behind Kabul airport attackAfter the deadliest day for the US military in Afghanistan in a decade, America’s top military leaders warned that they were bracing for more terrorist attacks in coming days. Kabul Taliban
Read more »
After Kabul blast, Australia halts Afghanistan evacuation missionThe Australian evacuation mission in Afghanistan has ended following the deadly explosion outside the Kabul airport overnight | Gallo_Ways Afghanistan KabulAirportBlast Afghanistancrisis
Read more »
'We will hunt you down': Joe Biden vows revenge on group responsible for Kabul attackJoe Biden has vowed the United States will hunt down those responsible for the twin explosions at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan. He's also said US evacuations will continue.
Read more »
Australia ends Afghanistan evacuation mission after Kabul suicide blastsThe federal government has confirmed all Australian troops have withdrawn from Kabul airport and evacuation flights have been terminated in the wake of the deadly suicide attack on the city's airport.
Read more »
US blames ISIS for attack believed to have killed dozens outside Kabul airportDEVASTATING: This is the terrifying moment of the second blast in the Afghanistan airport attack. Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul's airport, killing 12 US soldiers and at least 60 Afghans. MORE: 9News
Read more »
PM mourns for victims of 'calculated and inhuman' Kabul airport terror attackPrime Minister Scott Morrison says he grieves with 'American and Afghan friends' over the deaths of dozens in a terror attack outside Kabul airport.
Read more »