Nearly 4,000 Afghan and British nationals have been evacuated from Afghanistan, but fears remain many could be left behind as the US prepares to leave the country.
Some 3,821 individuals have been rescued thanks to British efforts under Operation Pitting since 13 August, according to the Ministry of Defence, including 1,323 who have made it to the UK.
Nevertheless, fears are mounting that not all evacuees will make it out of the country before American forces leave the country on 31 August.
A full flight of 265 people supported by Members of the UK Armed Forces who continue to take part in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Kabul airport. The UK have been working closely with our international partners to complete the evacuation safely.
A British flight from Kabul with 265 on board
The MoD said the “priority” is to get all those eligible “out as swiftly and safely” as possible, in conjunction with the US, and as “long as the security situation allows”.
However, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said “no nation will be able to get everyone out” of Afghanistan.
Writing for the Mail on Sunday, the cabinet minister said: “I have said all along that no nation will be able to get everyone out.
“It is a source of deep sadness for many of us across NATO, and no one wanted 20 years of sacrifice to end this way.
“We will do our best to the very last moment.”
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He added that the UK’s efforts to help those left behind would continue after troops have left.
“We shall stand by our obligations and are investigating now how to process people from third countries and refugee camps,” he said.
“We will establish a series of processing hubs across the region outside Afghanistan for those Afghans we have an obligation to bring to this country.”
9Naija 