One small way to help Afghanistan

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Copied from a FB post

Tonight not tomorrow tonight we desperately need the help of each and everyone.

Practical action please can everyone tweet Boris Johnson and your own mp and post on their facebook pages and instragrams with #Nowzad animal shelter Afghanistan, save its staff from certain death.

For those who don’t know Nowzad set up the first ever animal shelter in Afghanistan its has dogs, cats and even donkeys. It was set up by former royal marine Pen Farthing. It trains young women and has trained 500 young vets since it started. They will be seen as British collaborators and face certain death and for the women worse, if the 25 staff and their families are not got to the safety of the UK. Please act now as they Nowzad did for the Afghan people and our troops. Tomorrow is too late it has to tonight.

Well I think he is a hero.

Whatever you think of the animal side of things Pen Farthing will be filling his plane with humans who presumably have been unsuccessful getting out by other means - this includes people who aren’t his staff. 200 or so all in. So he is - presumably - saving the lives of many more people than anyone moaning about him in this thread is.

Who tf has a sanctuary in Kabul

Perhaps ex-servicemen who set up a charity to re-unite other ex servicemen with the dogs they befriended while posted out in Afghanistan? Jesus.

Oh some of the thousands we've seen unable to get to the airport

WHAT exactly can he do to get random people he does not know to the airport? How could he know who would be allowed to leave and who wouldn't? Who genuinely needs help and who could be a threat? How can he risk pissing the off Taliban even more by getting involved in that way - he is already a huge target in an extremely precarious situation.

All he has asked for is for him, his staff and his property to be taken to a place of safety - it is not HIS job to get others out and to safety, and he does not have the authority or the means to do that.

taking up people's time to process the associated admin stuff and actually get them on board

People and charities have willingly volunteered this help, it is not for you to say who or what they should help, it is their decision.

Perhaps Farthing should be using his 'taliban taxi' links -

Yes, because the Taliban must be REALLY keen to help out and do favours for a British ex Royal Marine Commando....

So he is - presumably - saving the lives of many more people than anyone moaning about him in this thread is

Exactly. And he's done this despite the fact that it will have put him at even further risk. In truth, he's not out of there safely yet, and may never be but yeah - let's all criticise him.

'So he is - presumably - saving the lives of many more people than anyone moaning about him in this thread is.'

Oh must we be actually in Afghanistan involved in the evacuation to be allowed to comment? I didn't realise that.

Anywayyy. Yes admirable that they are getting people out, fully support that. If is the 'operation Ark' evacuating cats and dogs that I do not support because as I've said, however they are transporting them to the airport and whatever scarce resources they are using once there should be freed up for focusing on people.

'Yes, because the Taliban must be REALLY keen to help out and do favours for a British ex Royal Marine Commando....'

Hey I'm quoting him, he said they'll be using 'taliban taxi' not me. Sarcastically who knows but however they are getting the dogs there should be used for getting people there. Social media etc and word of mouth seems to be how people are arranging it going by reports on the actual news.

I really hope there isn't an 'Operation Ark' film or Netflix series in the pipeline as we speak.

@Shanghaisprize … and breathe . Fingers crossed for some good news soon!

and breathe

.

Yes, fingers crossed indeed.

Just been watching the news from BBC west Country which has featured this story. It's beyond terrifying. Pen thinks there is a dispute between the government and MOD. All he wants is authority to get his staff and animals out of Afghanistan. His wife is safely in Norway, but he won't leave without his charity staff.

It's beyond terrifying. Pen thinks there is a dispute between the government and MOD

It really is, things just keep going from bad to worse with no solution and time running out. Latest update is that the plane has no authorisation to land and the Nowzad staff have no authorisation to access the airport.

Latest video from Kabul Small animal rescue is terrifying:

www.facebook.com/Warpaws/videos/568621564320068

The situation just KEEPS getting worse and worse - the Taliban are clearly trying to stop them leaving, and now playing heavy re the time limit. And planes flying in and and out are having to drop flares as the risk of being shot down is so high. It's terrifying to even watch, so how it must feel like to actually be there I can't begin to imagine.

All these people wanting and trying to help, but it seems we can't. Where the hell are the people who actually can and should be helping them all - the ones who fucking caused this situation? I'm beyond furious at the levels of sheer incompetence happening here

Literally heart breaking. This could be any of us really.

The video of Charlotte from KSAR is truly shocking. Personally I'm upset by so many comments on the post pushing her to save the animals. The danger has reached another level now. She is being offered safe passage for herself & team. I'm afraid she has only one option. I'm terrified for her & I've literally only just found out about her - can't begin to think what her family & friends are going through.

'The video of Charlotte from KSAR is truly shocking.'

It is shocking. As you say it is at another level now, they need to run for their lives and sadly leave the animals or else they will all be slaughtered.

Done x

God what is wrong with some people. Some repellent posts here & on the Nowzad Facebook page.
In the news tonight it's estimated there's literally about 3 days in time worth of refugee evacuations left. As extra days are needed for evacuating staff, armies and equipment.

Pen is under tremendous obvious pressure. His bravery & the bravery of the lady from the other place - small animal rescue is obvious .
The evacuation flights have really ramped up. I'm not sure there going to find a slot now.
I really do think the staff need to leave now, on any available flight. The Taliban know it's nearly over and they're now toying with them.

Was watching Sky News earlier and their reporter was broadcasting from inside an RAF plane with refugees on board. Also on board, taking up a load of space, was an armoured land cruiser - pic below and link to the video here:

https://twitter.com/skynews/status/1429901097762705415?s=21

Clearly not every available space is being taken up with humans, because they can't process people quick enough to fill the flights with people. This shouldn't be an either/or situation. If he can get himself, his staff and his animals to KIA (and that is far easier said than done), and out on a private chartered plane, then bloody good luck to him. I'd say some animals and their associated humans are far more worth transporting than a £50k truck.

I feel like I could cry. Why have MOD stopped them? What the hell is Biden playing at why won't he give more time to get the people out 😔.

I cannot believe the people questioning the privately funded plane (including by me) that will take 200 extra people beyond the Nowzad staff filling the tiny hold with as many dogs and cats as they can fit in. Insurance won’t allow humans in the hold, no way. So if’s an empty hold or a few extra innocent lives saved. They will be loading them on the plane themselves in under an hour, they are practising this now. The only airport resource used is landing and takeoff which is the same whether dogs/cats are on board or not. Where is people’s effing compassion. This Jan person above and Peter Quentin the evil idiot SPAD at MOD need to pipe down. MOD are blocking their landing pass because ooh dogs. Which also means 250 human lives NOT SAVED. Yet they are airflifting a car, A CAR!

I am beyond despairing for Nowzad and for KSAR, it is heartbreaking. Humans that lack compassion disgust me. And no, people are not more important than animals.

Bet we'll soon be hearing that the truck was needed for 'forensics' or some such shite.

I'm just desperately hoping we all get some more positive updates tomorrow. But even if (fingers crossed) they do manage to get out safely before Thursday, so many are going to be left behind. It's heartbreaking and a complete travesty that any of this was allowed to happen, not to mention the beyond shambolic response.

Humans that lack compassion disgust me

Same here, and the last couple of years has shown us there are a LOT of them.

When Pen Farthing originally said he wouldn't leave until his staff were out, there was little to no hope of this because his staff weren't eligible for evacuation.

This is worth repeating. He knew him and the animals being there immeasurably increased his staff's chance of getting out. Clever and brave man. He's using his clout for good.

I've just found this thread. I've posted on a couple of the other Afghanistan situation threads.
I love animals and people. It's not either/or as others have said. I'm a vegan, so naturally will always support the animal cause. But I'm also passionate about human rights, and to me it's all part the same thing - being kind, and trying to make the world a better kinder place. Animals matter too. They're sentient innocent beings, who never cause war, and who bring so much joy. I've got a little cat purring next to me now. Anyone who has had an animal in their life knows how much they mean - they're family.
My heart breaks for every single innocent human (especially children) and every animal too, trapped in Afghanistan.
I've followed the Nowzad situation a bit, and yes, not a penny is being asked of the tax payer. All the money has been raised independently. I believe Pen Farthing has said the animals will be transported in a part of the plane where humans wouldn't be anyway, and he's saving many human lives too.
He's obviously a truly good person, and selfless. A hero indeed.
There are many people deserving of criticism at the moment. But he isn't one of them. The opposite.
I hope with every fibre of my being that they reach safety soon. Which is my hope for every innocent soul caught up in this utterly distressing time and place...

I’ve read some nonsense on here, but janiie’s posts take the biscuit. Refusing to back down after clearly being told that no animal is taking a human’s place, the argument now seems to be that it looks bad or is ‘tone deaf’.

Bollocks to that.

I hate this tendency to pull people who are doing good down by asking why they aren’t prioritising something else - always by people who are doing neither.

@WanderingFruitWonderer

I've just found this thread. I've posted on a couple of the other Afghanistan situation threads. I love animals and people. It's not either/or as others have said. I'm a vegan, so naturally will always support the animal cause. But I'm also passionate about human rights, and to me it's all part the same thing - being kind, and trying to make the world a better kinder place. Animals matter too. They're sentient innocent beings, who never cause war, and who bring so much joy. I've got a little cat purring next to me now. Anyone who has had an animal in their life knows how much they mean - they're family. My heart breaks for every single innocent human (especially children) and every animal too, trapped in Afghanistan. I've followed the Nowzad situation a bit, and yes, not a penny is being asked of the tax payer. All the money has been raised independently. I believe Pen Farthing has said the animals will be transported in a part of the plane where humans wouldn't be anyway, and he's saving many human lives too. He's obviously a truly good person, and selfless. A hero indeed. There are many people deserving of criticism at the moment. But he isn't one of them. The opposite. I hope with every fibre of my being that they reach safety soon. Which is my hope for every innocent soul caught up in this utterly distressing time and place...

I totally agree!

@TheAntiGardener

I’ve read some nonsense on here, but janiie’s posts take the biscuit. Refusing to back down after clearly being told that no animal is taking a human’s place, the argument now seems to be that it looks bad or is ‘tone deaf’.

Bollocks to that.

I hate this tendency to pull people who are doing good down by asking why they aren’t prioritising something else - always by people who are doing neither.

Precisely! Is @JaniieJones is out there frantically trying to arrange funding and landing passes for airlifting Afghans? Or just naysaying one person trying to help all those that they can from the comfort of their home? Ugh.

I hate this tendency to pull people who are doing good down by asking why they aren’t prioritising something else - always by people who are doing neither.

Yep. Not sure why our compassion has to be limited to one cause or another.

Absolutely heartbreaking update this morning. Not sure if it will do any good but for anyone reading this who wants to help, #nowzad is currently trending on Twitter and they are asking people to tweet/email MPs, cc’ing Boris Johnson & MP Ben Wallace asking for an explanation as to why a special advisor to MP Ben Wallace has been allowed to prevent the landing of their privately donated plane to aid their evacuation from Kabul. Just to reiterate - the plane was to take over 200 British passport holders not just #nowzad staff and animals.

Again, to also reiterate, the animals were going in the hold, not taking space from people. And yes, as mentioned upthread. The Afghan people Pen Farthing’s ‘random animal charity’ employed and trained only had the of chance of getting out because of him. It’s now being prevented by the ministry of defence, who seem to want to prioritise rescuing cars.