Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Little girl handed over to US soldiers

230 replies

JardinVibe · 20/08/2021 14:22

Has anyone seen the video on the BBC website showing the little girl being handed over a wall to US soldiers at Kabul airport? She can only have been under 2 years old. I can't stop thinking about it. I wonder what on earth happened to her. I have a toddler myself and it's so upsetting (obvs upsetting regardless but the idea of feeling your only chance to save your child is to hand your baby over to a soldier is just terrifying).

Has anyone seen this or know any more if this story? Sadly I know it's just a tiny moment in a catastrophe full of horror stories.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
BeauxRingarde · 20/08/2021 14:23

The soldiers gave her back. They're making announcements over loudspeaker to not throw or hand children over the fence because they won't be put on flights.

Soubriquet · 20/08/2021 14:25

I’ve seen it and it’s heartbreaking. Children have actually been hurt by the barbed wire fences but the parents are just so desperate to get their children to safety that it’s a risk they are willing to take

It’s very sad.

NinaBallerinaShoes · 20/08/2021 14:26

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Raggedyanabell · 20/08/2021 14:27

I've not seen that but it sounds heartbreakingly awful!

Hellocatshome · 20/08/2021 14:28

They are not taking them. Imagine how many babies and unaccompanied children they would end up with if people knew they would take them. I cant even begin to imagine what horrors the parents are expecting if they think throwing their child over a barbed wire fence is the best option.

HasaDigaEebowai · 20/08/2021 14:29

They put out a statement saying the parent also went with the child

Hellocatshome · 20/08/2021 14:29

My suspicion is that it was done for a publicity stunt and the child was reunited with their parents on the other side of the wall. In my view, it was a too fortunate photo opportunity to it to be real.

That particular photo maybe buy it is happening, babies have been caught up in the barbed wire, some senior soldier (sorry I dont know his actual rank) said thag by the end of the day all the soldiers were in tears and he had to counsel several who had witnessed certain things.

Habbyhadno · 20/08/2021 14:29

I read that the baby needed treating for dehydration and then was returned, but who knows what to believe at the moment. I really feel for those people who are in such a desperate situation. Horrific.

Kittii · 20/08/2021 14:30

It reminds me of Handmaid's Tale.

TheQueef · 20/08/2021 14:30

@NinaBallerinaShoes

My suspicion is that it was done for a publicity stunt and the child was reunited with their parents on the other side of the wall. In my view, it was a too fortunate photo opportunity to it to be real.
Really? Have you seen the chaos there? It looks like a most desperate action to me not attention seeking Hmm
Heatherington · 20/08/2021 14:31

@Hellocatshome

They are not taking them. Imagine how many babies and unaccompanied children they would end up with if people knew they would take them. I cant even begin to imagine what horrors the parents are expecting if they think throwing their child over a barbed wire fence is the best option.
Have you not seen footage of them doing the same at the Mexican border? Literally dropping kids over the wall.
TwoMuchTwoYoung · 20/08/2021 14:31

You can clearly see there is a man, probably the child’s parent on the same side as the soldier and he is grabbing his wife to bring her over so the child gets handed to the soldier for a minute.

rooarsome · 20/08/2021 14:31

I've also seen a video of a baby, probably about 1, being passed over the crowd towards the fence. It's utterly heartbreaking

Soubriquet · 20/08/2021 14:35

Here’s a few photos

Samcro · 20/08/2021 14:36

how desperate must someone be to do that. awful.

MotionActivatedDog · 20/08/2021 14:38

Jesus. Those people must be so desperate. There is a tiny baby in one of those photos. You don’t do that for a photo op Hmm

Mummyoflittledragon · 20/08/2021 14:41

I’m so glad to read the parents were reunited with the children. It was heartbreaking to watch.

peruse · 20/08/2021 14:46

I’ve read that they’ve taken the mothers but fathers have to stay behind. They must be going out of their minds but relieved they’ve got their loved ones to safety.

GreyhoundG1rl · 20/08/2021 14:46

Heartbreaking.

Soubriquet · 20/08/2021 14:49

@peruse

I’ve read that they’ve taken the mothers but fathers have to stay behind. They must be going out of their minds but relieved they’ve got their loved ones to safety.
I’m sure most husbands would feel the same way

I know mine would. He would be thankful that me and the dc were safe even if it meant him staying

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 20/08/2021 14:50

fucking hell

I really hope I never know what that feels like.

Those poor sods. Millions of them.

MindyStClaire · 20/08/2021 14:55

I've never been one of those "I can't watch the news now I'm a parent" types, and I never cry at the news, but I've full on sobbed at this more than once in the past 24 hours thinking of my 3yo and 1yo girls. Horrific.

peruse · 20/08/2021 14:57

Mine too @Soubriquet

I hope they’re reunited one day, somehow, and are able to find peace together.

ohstopityourmakingitup · 20/08/2021 15:00

Honestly some people on this site knock me sick.

What is happening there is horrific, its not sexed up or a fucking photo op. They KNOW whats coming. People are lucky enough on here to never ever feel the sheer terror that these people are feeling right now.

Its disgusting what has been allowed to happen.

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/08/2021 15:02

People are lucky enough on here to never ever feel the sheer terror that these people are feeling right now.

This. Imagine feeling that your baby is safer handed to a random member of a foreign army than with you. The powerlessness and desperation.

Some people had had an empathy bypass.