According to Zahad Mohamed, he was shot twice and survived a suicide bombing attack, but these attacks pale in comparison to life under Taliban rule.
Mohamed has lived in Calgary since 2012 and worked as an interpreter for the Canadian Armed Forces and NATO Forces in Kandahar in 2006 for six years.
“It’s unbelievable because people can’t believe this will happen… Our family is shocked to see all this (is) happening,” he said.
For several weeks, with the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan, Afghans have been evacuating their country on a large scale.
Muhammad believes that his father was attacked and killed by the Taliban because of his work. He burst into tears, describing the dangerous journey of his family moving from house to house in order to avoid the regime’s discovery.
“(My brother told me) they killed (our father) very cruelly.
He said: “He was shot in the chest early in the morning on the way out of the mosque.”
“He was killed in 2013 because I was working for NATO troops. Since then, I have been moving inside and outside the province. They will stay in a house for three to four months and (then) move from there. Another house. This is not just my story. This is the story of every interpreter.”
Mohamed has been on a mission to bring his siblings to Calgary and said he has been asking the Canadian government about their status via email and phone, but has not received a response.
In Calgary, he told Global News that his family had to burn all his documents in Afghanistan, linking him to Canada and NATO allies-for fear of Taliban retaliation.
“When it all started, I told my family to burn it, (anything related to my work) they must burn it,” he said.
Muhammad said that he is sharing his story and hopes that the Canadian government will notice and help resettle thousands of Afghans who wish to flee their homes and seek a safer life in Canada. The biggest problem is how to evacuate Afghans to their airport through the Taliban checkpoint.
“They blocked all borders. The Taliban are on the border. They don’t want anyone to go abroad. Even if someone successfully goes abroad, they don’t have the money to support them.”
Call for help from retired Afghan veterans
Unfortunately, Muhammad’s story is not unique. Many interpreters and their families who wish to leave Afghanistan safely shared this story.
Among them, the language assistant “John” was given a pseudonym for fear of retaliation. His friends Mike and Daphne Tekuler are both Afghan veterans. They have been watching the situation closely and urging the Canadian government to provide more help.
“It’s very, very personal to see what happened there-like any other veteran who has served.
“When you see all the work we are doing with the Afghans to improve their country, it really cuts to the soul,” said Captain (retired) Mike Tekuler.
“From education to employment, to community projects in different villages and some simple things, we all think that access to water is a matter of course, but we have seen it all disappeared.
“And the people who work with us to help us achieve our mission—not to mention their goal of improving the country—are now in danger.”
John, his wife and children are still in Afghanistan. Through ter Kuiles, he expresses not the fear of himself, but the fear of his family.
“The Taliban have come to his father’s house to look for him.
“He said they also went to his brother’s house. But you know, (family) hid. They don’t go out. They don’t leave the house at all,” Daphne ter Kuile said.
“There is no one to protect them now. They are in greater danger. When we were sent there, it was originally to save lives. It is 100% unreasonable not to do so now,” Daphne said.
ter Kuiles called on the government to help Afghans and their families who have been supporting Canada for many years, and to speed up evacuation.
Currently, they are still in contact with John, but worry that time is running out for him and his loved ones.
“I don’t think I want to tell you what my biggest fear as a woman is. Because I know what terrible things are happening over there.
“My biggest fear is that I will never hear from him again, never again,” she said.
Statement from the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
So far, approximately 1,000 Afghan refugees have been evacuated as part of the first phase of the Ministry’s special immigration measures plan.
In addition, spokesperson Alex Cohen issued a statement saying that a flight of the Canadian Armed Forces evacuated 188 people from Kabul on Friday and plans to evacuate more people in the next few days.
Cohen said that the ministry will contact Afghans when it needs to go to the airport, and CAF personnel will coordinate with their allies, adding that two Canadian C-17s will fly to Kabul on a regular basis.
In addition, 40 Afghan refugees have completed quarantine and will join their new communities in Canada and will be resettled in 34 communities across the country, Cohen said.
“The next stage of this situation will be the refugee crisis, as humanitarian needs continue to grow and Afghans flee to neighboring countries. Canada is ready to respond, and we are the first country to announce a humanitarian plan for Afghan refugees. Is leading the world.
“In the coming months, we will welcome 15,000 vulnerable Afghans who have been forced to flee their country, focusing on women leaders, human rights defenders, religions and minorities, LGBTQ individuals and others.
“Family reunification is one of the three ways announced in the policy, as well as government-assisted refugees and privately funded refugees. We are prioritizing family reunification applications for Canadians, permanent residents, and immediate family members of protected persons,” the statement read road.
Afghans interested in special immigration measures for Afghans working in Canada can Visit this link to learn more.
Canadians and their relatives currently in Afghanistan can contact the Department of Global Affairs through this hotline You can visit this link here for information.
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