Afghan crisis: Australia evacuates 650 citizens from Afghanistan in biggest rescue yet

As the Taliban seized almost all of Afghanistan, Australia with the US is swiftly evacuating its citizens from the war-torn country. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday said that Australia and New Zealand officials evacuated more than 650 people from Kabul Airport over Monday night. The Prime Minister also said that Tuesday five flights had left the airport on the busiest day of Australian involvement in evacuations since the Taliban took control of the country.

It brings the total of people evacuated by Australia to 1,700 so far. Morrison told Nine Network television that the evacuated people included Australians, New Zealanders and Afghans.

The PM said, "Last night we got over 650 people out. It was our biggest night. That was on five flights, including one Kiwi (New Zealand) flight. We've uplifted a lot of Kiwis. They were with us last night, uplifting Aussies, and so we thank them for that. But, five flights, over 650, almost 1,700 people we've evacuated now. The people who are doing this job on the ground, Karl, they are real heroes, compassionate heroes, dealing with people in the most distressing and dangerous of situations.

 

He added, "Our ADF (Australian Defence Forces), our Air Force, flying people in and out, those from 3 Brigade there on the ground doing the job, providing security and supporting people getting onto these planes. Our Home Affairs officials, our Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials, you know, they're going through what is an extraordinarily intense time, and they're getting people out. Now, yes, that is the deadline, and I've been working on that. I've made no assumptions about the Taliban."

Talking more about the evacuation, he said, "We know their form. We've been going like we won't be able to get another flight in the next day. So, we've been trying to make every flight as successful as possible. We'll keep doing that for as long as we can. If that deadline is able to be pushed out, we've made that clear to the United States that we would support that. But, in the meantime, we'll just keep getting on with the job."