# Australia says it has evacuated 26 people from Afghanistan in first flight
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-08-18
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Australia evacuates 26 from Afghanistan in first rescue flight
Meta Description: Australia evacuates 26 people from Kabul airport in an effort to rescue its citizens and Afghan allies following the Taliban takeover. Stay updated with the
URL: https://financedigest.com/australia-says-it-has-evacuated-26-people-from-afghanistan-in-first-flighthtml

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By Colin Packham

CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia flew 26 people out of Afghanistan in its first rescue flight, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday, after Australian troops arrived to help with the evacuation from Kabul airport that has been secured by U.S. and British colleagues.

Australia said on Monday it would send 250 military personnel to Kabul to evacuate it citizens and an unspecified number of Afghans who had been given [visas](https://www.financedigest.com/brazil-to-resume-visa-requirements-for-us-japan-australia-canada-sources.html "Brazil to resume visa requirements for US, Japan, Australia, Canada -sources") after working for Australia.

Taliban fighters seized Kabul on the weekend after a lightning offensive [across the country](https://www.financedigest.com/sdl-helps-lifeplus-engage-with-customers-across-50-countries-and-gain-control-of-translation-costs-and-processes.html "SDL Helps Lifeplus Engage with Customers across 50 Countries and Gain Control of Translation Costs and Processes") as U.S.-led [Western forces have been withdrawing under a deal that included a Taliban promise not to attack them as they leave](https://www.financedigest.com/russias-ochakovo-ups-soft-drink-bottling-capacity-as-western-rivals-leave.html "Russia’s Ochakovo ups soft drink bottling capacity as Western rivals leave").

U.S. forces running the airport had to stop flights on Monday after [thousands](https://www.financedigest.com/southwest-cancels-thousands-more-flights-u-s-government-vows-scrutiny.html "Southwest cancels thousands more flights; U.S. government vows scrutiny") of frightened Afghans swamped the facility looking for a flight out. The situation was under control on Tuesday and flights resumed.

The first Australian rescue flight arrived in Afghanistan late on Tuesday to [deploy personnel to facilitate the rescue of citizens and Afghans given visas after working](https://www.financedigest.com/deployed-raises-4m-to-redefine-how-statements-of-work-are-created-and-projects-are-planned.html "Deployed raises M to redefine how Statements Of Work are created and projects are planned") for Australia. It then left Kabul, carrying 26 people, Morrison said.

This was the first of what will be many flights, subject to and weather and we do [note that over the back end](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-house-prices-end-2022-on-a-weaker-note-after-pandemic-boom.html "UK house prices end 2022 on a weaker note after pandemic boom") of this week, there is some not too favourable weather forecast,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

The flight was able to depart after [security around the airport in Kabul has improved](https://www.financedigest.com/what-banks-need-to-do-right-now-to-improve-their-digital-services-without-sacrificing-security.html "What Banks Need to Do Right Now to Improve Their Digital Services Without Sacrificing Security ") with the presence of British and U.S. troops, he said.

Morrison is under pressure to expedite the rescue of its citizens and Afghans who worked for Australia during its two-decade long involvement in Afghanistan.

Morrison warned on Tuesday, however, Australia was unlikely to be able to help all of those who had assisted them. \[L4N2PO1DB\]

[Australia was part of a NATO-led international force that battled](https://www.financedigest.com/shell-pay-battle-escalates-at-prelude-lng-off-australia.html "Shell pay battle escalates at Prelude LNG off Australia") the Taliban and trained Afghan security forces in the years after the militants were ousted in 2001.

More than 39,000 Australian military personnel served in Afghanistan and 41 of them were killed there.

(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Robert Birsel)


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