Germany to help Afghans seeking to leave beyond Aug. 31 deadline - Merkel

Record ID: 1633780

  • Title: Germany to help Afghans seeking to leave beyond Aug. 31 deadline - Merkel
  • Date: 25th August 2021
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (AUGUST 25, 2021) (REUTERS) KRAMP-KARRENBAUER, MAAS, SOCIAL DEMOCRAT (SPD) CHANCELLOR FOR CANDIDATE AND FINANCE MINISTER OLAF SCHOLZ AND SEEHOFER LISTENING (CLOCKWISE)
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2021 12:01
  • Keywords: Afghanistan botched rescue mission American soldiers German Chancellor Angela Merkel Grafenwoehr training area Taliban U.S. Army in Europe evacuees
  • Location: BERLIN & GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN & GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Europe,Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA009ERS1HSJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Germany will try to help Afghans who worked with its soldiers and aid organisations and wish to leave Afghanistan even after an Aug. 31 deadline to end a U.S.-led military evacuation operation, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday (August 25).
    "The end of the air bridge in a few days must not mean the end of efforts to protect Afghan helpers and help those Afghans who have been left in a bigger emergency with the takeover of the Taliban," Merkel told the German parliament.
    "At the same time we must not close our eyes to the danger that with the allies' withdrawal, Afghanistan can become a breeding ground for international terrorism again," said Merkel, adding "that must be avoided."
    As evacuations from Kabul airport continued, the U.S. military said it prepared "tents and bedding for the possibility of supporting incoming Afghan evacuees at Grafenwoehr Training Area" in southern Germany.
    "Qualified evacuees will receive support, such as temporary lodging, food, medical screening and treatment and more, while housed at ... Grafenwoehr, Germany, in preparation for onward movements to their final destinations."
    About 19,000 people were evacuated from Kabul on Tuesday, raising the total number airlifted out of Afghanistan since Aug. 14 to 82,300, the White House said on Wednesday (August 25).
    In the past 24 hours, 42 U.S. military flights and 48 coalition flights helped evacuate people from the Afghan capital amid the Taliban takeover, it said.
    (Production: Oliver Ellrodt, Michele Sani)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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