In the midst of the ongoing evacuations against a deadline set by the Taliban, thousands of Afghans camped outside Kabul airport hoping to leave Afghanistan. Satellite imagery from space company Planet Labs shows vehicles and crowds continue to populate all possible entrances to Hamid Karzai International Airport.
On Tuesday the Taliban said they did Do not allow Afghan nationals to leave the country. “We’re not going to extend the August 31 deadline. They can take away all of the people who belong to them. We will not let the Afghans go, “said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. This new Taliban dictation calls into question the fate of those who are still camping outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
The Taliban reportedly put several roadblocks on the route to the airport. The main entrance to the airport was barricaded, which resulted in a visible traffic blockade.
Satellite images show the situation in front of the main entrance of Hamid Karzai International Airport (Image: Planet Labs Inc, Analysis: India Today)
Thousands of people have gathered near the north gate, the abbey gate and the east gate of Kabul Airport. Local reports suggest that many people are waiting in their vehicles parked near these gates.
Satellite images show the crowd at the north gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport. (Image: Planet Labs Inc, Analysis: India Today)
Abbey Gate, on the other side of the airport, witnessed a similar situation. Several cars and makeshift sheds can be seen in the pictures.
Satellite imagery shows the crowd at Abbey Gate outside Hamid Karzai International Airport. (Image: Planet Labs Inc, Analysis: India Today)
Evacuations from Kabul Airport have picked up recently, with the total number of people who have left the country since August 14 rising to over 70,000.
Satellite image showing evacuees at Hamid Karzai International Airport. (Image: Planet Labs Inc, Analysis: India Today)
Apart from the obvious fears of the Taliban rule, many Afghans fear a complete collapse of the economy and in the coming days also lack of food security.
“A perfect storm is coming due to several years of drought, conflict and economic deterioration exacerbated by Covid,” David Beasley, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program, told Reuters in Doha. He has asked the international community to donate $ 200 million in food aid to the war-torn country.
Taliban spokesmen in Doha and Afghanistan have sent conflicting messages about the fate of Afghan citizens who may wish to leave the country after the August 31 deadline. Taliban negotiating team in Doha and international media spokesman Suhail Shaheen said implementation of the deadline would pave the way for civilian flights to resume.
“People with legal documents can travel on commercial flights after August 31,” he said after a German delegation met the Taliban delegation in Doha on Wednesday.
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