Three Hamilton families stuck in Afghanistan as conditions abroad worsen
A Hamilton man is pleading for the government to help his family stuck in Afghanistan after conditions there took a sudden turn for the worse.
Alakoozi Firoz, who lives on the west Mountain, says his brother, sister-in-law and their two kids are trying to come home after arriving in Afghanistan last week to visit Firoz's parents. Taliban militants took over the Kabul capital, leading to cancelled flights and the suspension of Canada's embassy.
People don't know what to do. Everybody's terrified," said Firoz.
His brother, Keram Alakoozi, who works for a window and glass company, has lived in Hamilton for eight years with his wife, a nurse. The couple has two kids, age three and one.
Firoz talked to the family through social media on Monday and told them to stay home and stock enough water and food for their family.
His family is one of at least three from Hamilton unable to leave Afghanistan as the situation abroad grows increasingly dire, says the director of a local group linked to the Afghan community.
Akbar Haidary, director of the Afghan Association of Hamilton, says he knows about three families so far" who are stranded in Afghanistan.
They're stuck in there and they don't know when they can get out," said Haidary on Monday. The situation is dark for them."
Scenes of chaos erupted on international media as the Taliban took over the country while the U.S. withdraws troops after 20 years. The Afghan president fled and many civilians were seen trying to latch onto a U.S. plane as it took off, in a desperate attempt to find safety.
Haidary's organization has been trying to help local families stay safe and seeking information to help them return home.
A second family stranded abroad is one that Haidary helped settle in Hamilton. A woman he identified as Nazila Ghafari came to Canada more than five years ago as a refugee, he said. At the time, she was pregnant. The Afghan association helped her sponsor her husband, who arrived about a year and a half ago, Haidary added.
The couple travelled to Afghanistan about a month ago when the Ghafari's father-in-law died. They are permanent residents of Canada and now have two children who are citizens, the youngest about seven months old.
In an email, the federal Office of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship said we're working to process the applications of Afghans and bring them to safety in Canada.
We hope to send more flights to Kabul, either from the Canadian Forces or one of our (allies), as soon as the airport is safe," said press secretary Alexander Cohen.
On Aug. 13, Ottawa announced it would help resettle 20,000 Afghans to Canada, including those who extended help to Canadian forces and others in vulnerable positions.
We are urgently bringing more Afghans to safety in Canada and will continue to support them through this crisis," said a statement from Global Affairs Canada on Sunday when it announced the suspension of its embassy in Afghanistan.
Canadians who need consular assistance in Afghanistan should contact the department's 24-7 emergency centre in Ottawa by phone at 1-613-996-8885, email at sos@international.gc.ca or SMS at 1-613-686-3658.
Maria Iqbal is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator covering aging. Reach her via email: miqbal@thespec.com.