The Latest: Australia says still evacuating despite danger
Australia says it has helped evacuate 955 people in five flights from Kabul’s airport overnight as the danger in Afghanistan increased
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia says it has helped evacuate 955 people in five flights from Kabul’s airport overnight as the danger in Afghanistan increased.
Defense Minister Peter Dutton on Wednesday thanked U.S., British and New Zealand defense forces for their help in evacuating 2,650 people including Afghan nationals from the airport since Wednesday last week.
Tuesday was Australia’s most successful day in evacuating people including Afghans who had worked for the Australian government.
“There is more work to be done but, of course, we know the security threats on the ground continue to increase,” Dutton told Parliament.
The government would take the advice of the Australian Defense Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell “as to how long it is possible for us to stay in country to keep our own people safe and help those that have helped us,” Dutton added.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to comment on reports that up to 1,200 Afghans with Australian visas had been turned away from the airport.
Dutton said Australia has resettled 8,500 Afghans who helped Australia in the past five years.
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MORE ON AFGHANISTAN:
— Taliban insist on airlift deadline amid new report of abuses
— Biden decides to stick with Aug. 31 final pullout from Kabul
— G-7 grapples with Afghanistan, an afterthought not long ago
— UN rights chief warns of abuses amid Taliban’s Afghan blitz
— Taliban takeover prompts fears of a resurgent al-Qaida
— Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
SEOUL, South Korea __ Seoul says about 380 people evacuated from Afghanistan will arrive in South Korea aboard military planes on Thursday.
Choi Jongmoon, second vice foreign minister, told a briefing Wednesday that the Afghans are those who had worked for South Korea-run facilities in Afghanistan including its embassy or their family members.
Choi says the government has decided to bring them to South Korea in consideration of “an ethical responsibility for our (Afghan) colleagues” and a responsibility as a member of the international community.
He says the Afghans will be sent to a government-run temporary accommodation facility upon their arrival in South Korea on Thursday.