@WeAreTheWomen I’ve been supportive of Nowzad and the Norgrove Foundation.
From what I understand, originally when the deal was made with US, Taliban offered them Kabul while they got people out, but US happy to just have control of the airport. Taliban then prevented anyone of Afghan origin getting to the airport. Then the US suddenly changed their paperwork requirements so many Afghans who had made it inside the airport were then turned away. This included Pen Farthing’s staff and their families including children and babies, who then walked outside into gunfire and bombs.
It has also been reported this week that the U.K. government apparently refused entry to interpreters into the U.K. as they were deemed a security risk. France on the other hand were busy evacuating all their at risk contacts in May.
Dominic Raab was on holiday refusing to take calls when Kabul fell & Boris Johnson waited three more days to hold an emergency meeting. Meanwhile, many planes leaving with only a few people on them.
Many people didn’t get out because of processing procedures and paperwork. The dogs were able to leave because they didn’t go through that process. Pen Farthing has said off duty US soldiers helped load the dogs & MoD source has confirmed their evacuation did not impact the evacuation of people.
He wanted the seats to be used but was told it wasn’t necessary, that everyone was out who needed to be out. So he left on an empty plane - one of that last British ones to go. He was heartbroken leaving his staff but they told him to go & take the animals. To say he “casually” did anything is undermining his experience.
Many of the dogs he brought over already had homes lined up, some with military staff who had befriended the animals on duty, others left behind at the British embassy etc.
It’s bloody awful. I feel heartbroken for those two Afghan sisters. I also feel heartbroken for the qualified female vets who were in touching distance of freedom only to have it snatched away.