Ministers Urged Not to ‘Abandon’ Afghans on Anniversary of Taliban Takeover

Summary:

• Appeals are being made to assist Afghan children living in the UK without their parents, following the Taliban's rise to power.
• Over 21,000 Afghans arrived in the UK through resettlement schemes, but most are not allowed to bring their family members.
• Children separated from their families during the Kabul evacuations two years ago continue to suffer emotionally.
• The experiences of young Afghans like Iim, Wasim, and Zuleika highlight the lasting impact of the crisis.
• Advocates are urging the government to prioritize reuniting families torn apart by recent events.
• Downing Street acknowledges efforts to reunite Afghans, but specific details remain unclear.

Appeals are being made to assist Afghan children living in Britain without their parents, as the anniversary of the Taliban's rise to power approaches. Many children were separated from their families during the chaotic mass evacuations from Kabul two years ago. Over 21,000 Afghans arrived in the UK through official resettlement schemes, with more than 12,500 granted leave to remain. However, most of them are ineligible to bring their family members to the UK. Some children arrived in the UK alone after being separated from their loved ones.

It has been two years since Afghanistan lost its freedom, marking a somber anniversary for millions. The city of Kabul has endured two years under the shadow of terror, with numerous children being forcibly separated from their parents. Among these children is Iim, an 11-year-old who had to leave his family behind in Kabul. Wasim's story is equally heart-wrenching; he was only nine years old when a bomb blast at Kabul airport tore him away from his parents and siblings. The chaotic scenes at the airport etched painful memories into their minds, leaving them traumatized and detached from their loved ones. Zuleika, a 17-year-old teacher, was also caught in the upheaval as the Taliban took control. She fled with her eight-year-old sister and teenage brother, losing her parents in the process. Their lives have been marked by profound loss and aching incompleteness.

Calls are growing for the government to fulfill its moral duty towards these Afghans, reuniting families torn apart by the tumultuous events of the past years. As Downing Street asserts its efforts to bring together resettled Afghans, the precise details and numbers remain uncertain.