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Poland has halted its airlift evacuations from Kabul’s international airport over safety concerns, the government said, as Western nations prepare to end operations helping those fleeing the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan ahead of America’s looming withdrawal.
Marcin Przydacz, a Polish deputy foreign minister, said that a group taken from Kabul and now in Uzbekistan was the last evacuated by Poland. Another plane is on its way to Warsaw. He said his nation made its decision after consulting with the US and British officials.
After a long analysis of reports on the security situation we cannot risk the lives of our diplomats and of our soldiers any longer.
A total of 662 evacuees from Afghanistan landed at the American base in Sicily, the US Department of State said in a note.
The initial group of evacuees were flown out from Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to al-Udeid Air Base, Qatar, and arrived at the Naval Air Station (NAS) in Sigonella, as part of Operation Allies Refuge, the U.S. Department of State’s mission for the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigration Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans as quickly and safely as possible.
To see how this base is able to pull in support, all across Italy, is truly impressive.
The people we’re helping are going to be joining our American family. We’re proud to welcome them with open arms.
This is a short-notice mission that is a national priority for NAS Sigonella and team.
They have moved heaven and earth to be ready to take care of folks leaving a desperate situation and are treating them with dignity and respect. They didn’t just complete the mission. They went above and beyond to help the Afghan people to the best of their abilities and with hearts full of empathy.