In 2004, Kevin Weedmark worked as a reporter in Afghanistan Canadian International Development Agency Reports stories about Canadian military and civilian Canadian development projects in the country.
Kevin Weedmark clears mines in Afghanistan. (2004).
Kevin Widmark
During the two months they worked together, Widmark sometimes spent more than 12 hours a day with his Afghan interpreters.
He mentioned that his friend never thought of leaving his home country, and he is doing everything he can to make it better and safer.
According to Weedmark, even during the entire time they were together, the interpreter would never say that he wanted to immigrate to Canada. In fact, he would say the opposite.
“… But a few weeks ago, with the rapid changes in the local situation, he started to feel dangerous,” Kevin said.
At first, Kevin received an email asking for help.
The next email from his former translator said: “I hope that the processing of my application will not cost [a] For a long time, because the situation is getting worse day by day. “
An email from Kevin Widmark’s former translator, explaining his dilemma.
Kevin Widmark
After receiving the email shown in the picture above, Kevin started to contact anyone he could contact, such as military officials and politicians, to try to get his friends and family members to Canada safely.
“I think this person, you know, has saved my life a few times… I think I should do my best to take him to Canada safely,” Widmark said.
He even asked to go to Afghanistan and board one of the planes as a member of the media to help bring refugees back to Canada and share experiences.
The reply he received Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC) It is to protect the privacy and safety of all relevant personnel and does not allow any media to board the plane.
Photos taken by Kevin Widmark while patrolling with the Canadian Army. (2004).
Kevin Widmark
The immigration process started quickly and moving, bringing some hope to these two friends from different worlds.
Kevin believes that due to the interpreter’s participation in a government project, given the fierce nature of the request, his documents are likely to be processed expeditiously.
However, after the document was sent to IRCC, the momentum of progress stopped completely.
Canadian troops are patrolling Afghanistan. (2004).
Kevin Widmark
Widmark said the Ministry of Defense kept him informed about how they plan to help his friends and many others leave Afghanistan.
As of August 20, this is the message Weedmark has received from a reporter, “The two C-177 Globemasters have begun to fly to Kabul in turn and will continue to do so as long as [as] The security situation allows… Globemaster is currently being reconfigured to transport the largest number of people as safely as possible…”
With the knowledge of aircraft finally available, interpreters have been preparing to travel to the airport.
“At this time, he was just waiting for the call,” Widmark said of his former translator.
Canadian troops visited a village in the mountains near Kabul. (2004).
Kevin Widmark
Kevin mentioned that he has always had an idea in his mind that his friend may not be able to escape the severe situation in Afghanistan.
“If he can, if he and his family can reach Canada safely, there will be a heavy burden on my shoulders.”
So far, he does not know when or if the interpreter and his family will be able to board the flight to freedom and safety.
They were told that this could be any time in the next few weeks, but there is no certainty.
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