Australia and South Korea have rescued hundreds of people from Afghanistan, news agencies reported on Wednesday. According to an Australian report, 955 people were evacuated from Kabul airport on five flights during the night, MTI wrote.
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton on Wednesday thanked the US, British and New Zealand defense forces for their assistance in evacuating 2,650 people, including Afghan nationals, since last Wednesday.
Tuesday was the most successful day in Australia to evacuate people, including Afghans working for the Australian government.
There is still work to be done, but of course we know that security threats on the ground are increasing.
Dutton voiced in Parliament Canberra. As the government said, General Angus Campbell, the commander-in-chief of the Australian Defense Forces will hear advice on how long their troops can stay in the country to keep its people safe and help those who have helped them.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on reports that about 1,200 Afghans with Australian visas had been returned from Kabul airport.
At the same time, Dutton spoke of Australia already relocating 8,500 Afghans who have helped the country in the past five years.
South Korea is also evacuating
South Korea’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that South Korea will repatriate 391 Afghan nationals this week. Vice Foreign Minister Chung Jong Moon said that military planes carrying the evacuees are expected to leave the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Thursday.
As part of the evacuation effort called Operation Miracle, Korea directed a KC-330 air reloader and two KC-130 aircraft to Islamabad.
Babe added that the Afghans who were selected would not arrive at the Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, not as refugees but as special benefits.
The evacuees were health professionals, trainers, IT experts and interpreters who worked at the Korean Embassy in Afghanistan and its humanitarian and aid organizations. They were joined by their family members, including about 100 children and three newborns.
