‘I feel so devastated’: Surrey man desperately trying to get mom, siblings out of Afghanistan

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Thursday’s violence in Kabul is creating even more anxiety for a Surrey man who is desperately trying to get his mother and three of his siblings out of Afghanistan.

Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport Thursday, turning a scene of desperation into one of horror in the waning days of an airlift for those fleeing the Taliban takeover.

“My family, right now, are safe,” Jamshid Arefi said. “I have been in touch with them and I am afraid that we might lose that communication anytime. You never know what’s happening there.”

He says his family members in Afghanistan are human rights advocates and are currently in hiding.

“Their human rights activism has put them in danger,” he said. He fears their hiding place will be discovered by the Taliban.

Arefi, who is an Afghan native and runs the Afghans in Vancouver Facebook page, says it’s devastating and horrific to see what’s happening in Kabul.

“The images and videos I see or hear, they are horrific. Someone is responsible for that, and the international community is responsible for that. The government is responsible for that. This is the consequences.”

Related video: ‘We stayed in Afghanistan for as long as we could’, Army Commander says

Arefi is also critical of the prime minister for dissolving Parliament and moving Canadians into an election campaign during this crisis.

“Everything is moving so slow, on the Canadian side,” he said. “My mom visited me three years ago. She has a Canadian visa. But my siblings, they are Afghan nationals. They don’t have Canadian citizenship.”

From Canada, Arefi has been doing whatever he can to help them.

“All that we’ve received is a an auto-response from the email [addresses] that have been dedicated to this specific program. Given … the election and the campaigns, MPs are busy. They barely have time to talk to us about this issue.”

The vast majority of remaining Canadian personnel were evacuated from the Taliban-controlled city of Kabul, just hours before two explosions left more dozens of people dead near the airport.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his government’s actions in Afghanistan, as Canada’s mission in the war-torn country came to a close, as deadly explosions rocked the airport.

‘It is not enough,’ Arefi says of Trudeau’s commitments

“This is a very difficult day,” Trudeau said Thursday while at a campaign stop for the upcoming federal election.

The Liberal leader says his government has done all it can to help the thousands of people looking to flee Afghanistan, but the recent Taliban surge surprised many.

“I understand the heartbreak to those who were not able to get out as the temporary air bridge is closing,” Trudeau said, defending the military mission and vowing Canada will continue to work with regional and international allies.

“To do everything we can, to bring tens of thousands of Afghans with their families to Canada,” he said. “We will ensure that in the coming months and years we bring over 20,000 Afghans to their new homes in Canada.”

We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks in Kabul. Our hearts break for the people of Afghanistan and the loved ones of the victims, including the brave women and men of our Allies. We will continue working with our partners to support Afghans and resettle refugees in Canada.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 26, 2021

Arefi says he appreciates Trudeau’s sentiments, but “it is not enough.” He would like to be able to sponsor his own family members and bring them to Canada.

“I am working here, paying taxes, and we work very hard. At least, they should have allowed someone like me to be able to sponsor my siblings. I’m ready and willing to pay everything out of pocket and I don’t want anything from the government of Canada. But at least, I want, from the policy perspective, to allow this. Give an exception so people like me are able to help the people who are at risk.”

Arefi says he is just one of thousands of Afghan Canadians who are worried about their family.

“All of us have families, siblings, parents stuck there,” he said. “I feel so devastated that I can’t do anything.”

Related articles:

• Trudeau defends Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan as Kabul eclipses election campaign

• Kabul airport attack kills Afghans, US troops

• ‘We wish we could have saved everyone’: Canadian mission in Kabul has ended

On Thursday, the Canadian Armed Forces announced the military’s final flight left the Kabul airport the night before, carrying hundreds on board. The CAF did not say exactly how many people the aircraft was carrying, and also did not specify how many were left behind.

“We wish we could have saved everyone,” acting Lt.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, Canada’s acting Chief of the Defence Staff, said.

More than 3,700 Canadians, permanent residents, and Afghans were airlifted out of Afghanistan in recent weeks amid the Taliban takeover.

“Please do not sit silent,” Arefi urged. “Become the voices of all these vulnerable populations there. A lot of people, their lives are at risk. Women and girls have been dreaming of a future … Please become their voice. Raise your voice, stand up, and talk to your politicians.”

With files from Cormac Mac Sweeney, Hana Mae Nassar, and The Associated Press