It was like state of affairs room: California households recount harrowing escape from Kabul

When Yousef’s spouse and their 4 kids boarded a July 15 flight in San Diego to attend her brother’s marriage ceremony in Afghanistan, they have been trying ahead to a month of household gatherings. It was lengthy overdue — the coronavirus pandemic prevented them from touring earlier.

Their return ticket was Aug. 15, two days earlier than their kids’s college 12 months started within the San Diego suburb of El Cajon.But the Afghan-American household discovered themselves dodging gunfire and making an attempt to drive their means into the crowds of 1000’s ringing the airport in Kabul after Afghanistan’s authorities collapsed and the Taliban seized energy.ALSO READ: ‘It seemed apocalyptic’: Crew describes Afghanistan departureYousef’s spouse and kids have been amongst eight households from El Cajon who discovered themselves trapped after U.S. troops raced to evacuate Americans and allies after which left the nation. Yousef requested that solely his first title be used as a result of he nonetheless has household in Afghanistan who could possibly be in danger.All however one of many households bought out with the assistance of the Cajon Valley Union School District and Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, whose district contains El Cajon, a metropolis with a big refugee inhabitants. The households had traveled on their very own over the summer time to see family members and weren’t a part of an organized journey.Several of the households, accompanied by Issa and college officers, spoke to reporters Thursday for the primary time since they returned, recounting their harrowing expertise.The dad and mom described operating with their children as gunfire whizzed overhead. One father stated he was crushed by the Taliban. They stated they have been blocked at Taliban checkpoints.ALSO READ: Women have disappeared: NGO employee punches holes into Taliban’s promise of changeThey stated they’re grateful to be again however their kids have suffered nightmares, and so they fear concerning the household that was unable to get out, together with numerous others nonetheless caught there, together with distant family members.“My kids are now safe at home right now thanks to God and all of you,” Yousef stated.But he requested folks to not neglect about so many others, together with U.S. residents, inexperienced card holders and Afghans who’re in danger for serving to the American authorities. He held in his hand a folder that he stated contained the paperwork of 30 individuals who certified for a particular immigrant visa and must be within the United States however are nonetheless in Afghanistan, determined to flee.President Joe Biden has stated between 100 and 200 Americans have been left behind when U.S. troops accomplished their withdrawal Aug. 31, lots of them twin residents. The State Department has given no estimate for the variety of inexperienced card holders nor the variety of Afghans who stay who helped the U.S. authorities through the 20-year struggle and have been recipients of a particular immigrant visa to return to the United States.ALSO READ: 2,500 Americans killed in Afghan struggle, prime US common says he shares ‘ache and anger’Issa stated he believes the quantity to be a lot increased for U.S. residents and the others. Many of the households he helped get again to California previously week are inexperienced card holders. Some are U.S. residents.“We’re delighted to have these kids back in school and their parents united, but we also know that there’s a lot more work to do,” Issa stated.Yousef stated he felt helpless being in California, 1000’s of miles away, fearing the life that they had constructed would come to a halt and his spouse and kids can be trapped within the nation dominated by the Taliban. He, his spouse and kids are all U.S. residents. They got here to the United States on a particular immigrant visa after Yousef labored for the U.S. authorities in Afghanistan.After they didn’t get into the airport on Aug. 15, his spouse and youngsters returned to their relative’s residence.Yousef alerted his household from El Cajon that the U.S. Embassy in Kabul was advising folks to not go to the airport due to threats.Eight hours later, suicide bombers set off explosions on the airport, killing 13 U.S. troops and greater than 170 others.Yousef stated Issa’s staff organized a time for his household to go to the airport with an escort from U.S. authorities.“It was like a situation room,” Yousef stated of speaking to Issa’s staff whereas navigating his household by way of the chaos from afar. “I was sitting here talking to them. They were sending their locations and stuff like this.”His household returned residence Friday. The very first thing he did was take them to IHOP, their favourite restaurant.He hopes extra of these comfortable moments will overtake the traumatic recollections his children maintain. His 7-year-old son, his youngest, has been speaking concerning the violence.“They are talking about it, about the gunfire, and being scared of the Taliban, but we hope they forget all that” and return to their life as common American children, Yousef stated.ALSO READ: Taliban period for Afghanistan begins with lengthy queues at banks, hovering costs