Oct 14 2023 23 mins
In this episode, I discuss my experiences and challenges during the evacuation process after the collapse of Afghanistan. I talked about the difficulties faced due to visa issues and the need to hide any documents or certificates related to international organizations. I have also shared about involvement with the American University of Afghanistan and their initial plans to evacuate students. However, due to various reasons, including a car accident and a bomb explosion at the airport, the evacuation plan did not work out. In addition, I should also mention other evacuation options, such as a group offering visas to Afghans for evacuation to Brazil, which also fell through. I expressed my frustration and loss of hope as I recounted the failed attempts to leave the country and the lack of support from international organizations.
Key Takeaways:
- Thousands of people attempted to evacuate Afghanistan after the collapse of the country, fearing the Taliban's rule.
- The American University of Afghanistan initially promised to evacuate its students, but the plan did not work out due to various obstacles.
- Other evacuation options, such as a group offering visas to Afghans for evacuation to Brazil, also failed to materialize.
- Losing hope and feeling abandoned by international organizations as joblessness and uncertainty about the future.
Timestamps: 0:00:10 Introduction to the podcast and explanation for the delay
0:01:22 Discussion on the evacuation plans after the country's collapse
0:02:47 Burning and hiding certificates due to fear of Taliban
0:05:27 Possibility of evacuation to Bahrain and Brazil
0:07:44 Work-related evacuation plans that didn't work out
0:09:17 Lack of evacuation plans from the US Embassy
0:10:16 Attempted evacuation by the American University
0:11:43 Explosion at the airport disrupts evacuation plan
0:13:49 Continuous communication with American Rescue for evacuation options
0:15:46 Consideration of illegal routes to Iran or Pakistan for escape
0:17:31 A student at American University shares disappointing experiences with evacuation attempts
0:19:16 American forces and international forces leave Afghanistan, causing a loss of hope
0:20:57 The American University offers help through Pakistan, but it doesn't work out
0:22:28 Hope for assistance from international communities is lost
0:23:20 Announcement for the next podcast episode
Quotes:
- "I had to hide them. I had to throw them away. I had to burn them because… if they find anything… you will be in trouble."
- "Every room or every door that I was knocking, it was closing every single time."
- "I lost trust, I lost hope… I was jobless. I didn't have university, I didn't have work, I didn't have any support from these international communities."
- "99% of the hope that I had… was dead."
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