Last week, about fifty Norwegian soldiers were hastily sent down to the military airport in the Georgian capital.
The mission was to ensure that the evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan was carried out as efficiently as possible.
On Friday last week, the soldiers were in the process of receiving planes full of people at the airport.
– We are usually trained for military operations, but this has been a more humanitarian angle. When we went into this last Friday, we were not sure what we would face, says doctor Jarle Kjønigsen, who is part of the Army’s rapid reaction force.
– HUMANITARIAN OPERATION: Doctor Jarle Kjønigsen in the Armed Forces believes that the operation to contribute to the evacuation from Kabul has been successful. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
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– Shocked
At all hours of the day, planes have arrived in Tbilisi. The people on board came straight from the chaos at the airport in Kabul.
– The starting point is that everyone was dehydrated, tired, affected, shocked. I think they have been incredibly hardy. Really tough people, says Kjønigsen to TV 2.
The meetings and impressions for the soldiers have been many during the week they have helped to keep the air bridge between Afghanistan and Norway going.
– Between 50 and 60 percent of those who came are children. And everyone knows this with the children. I have children myself. There is something about the small children, the infants and the orphans, says Kjønigsen.
– INTENSIVE: After a hectic week, the soldiers have time to relax a bit. Photo: Bent Skjærstad / TV 2
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First assignment
In the Norwegian camp, which was rigged at record speed at the military part of the airport in Tbilisi, TV 2 meets many soldiers with long experience from foreign assignments.
But several of them are also out on their first assignment, such as Isak Nathaniel Sveen.
– FIRST JOURNEY: Military police Isak Nathaniel Sveen went straight from first-time service to foreign assignments. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
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– There have of course been some strong impressions. Especially when there are so many children. Young children. It has been special, but also a little good to see that we have managed to help so many people, says Sveen.
Nurse Camilla, like several of the others in Task Force Tbilisi, has previously been on assignment in Afghanistan.
– I think there is something inherent in all of us who work in this profession, that we want to be there and help, says Camilla.
We meet her in the camp after the evacuation of civilians was stopped.
– There have been many impressions, many heartbreaking situations, but also many situations that give extremely much warmth when we meet these people on a trip that we can not even imagine, she says.
– CONTRIBUTES TO THE EVACUARY: Soldier Camilla talks about a hectic but rewarding week in Georgia. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
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Has helped over 1000 people
The soldiers from Telemark Battalion have helped over 1000 people who have been evacuated from the airport in Kabul.
They have picked them up by plane, unloaded them through the civilian part of the airport and prepared them for the last part of the journey to Norway.
– RELIEF: An important task has been to give parents relief by taking care of their children. Photo: Frederik Ringnes / The Armed Forces
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One of the most important things they have done was to give the evacuees peace and security after the drama they experienced in Kabul.
Although it has been a demanding assignment for the soldiers, Camilla is left with good experiences as well.
– Me and my squad leader had a very nice moment yesterday. Everyone had fallen asleep, children, mothers and men. Then we just stood and watched how they slept and felt safe. It gave us both goosebumps, quite simply. It hit deep into the soul, to help make them feel safe, says Camilla.
After the last civilian plane left Tbilisi on Friday morning, the soldiers have had the opportunity to relax a bit in the camp. And for many, it has been good to talk to fellow soldiers about the impressions and experiences they have had during the week.
– I think most people feel that we have made a difference, says doctor Jarle Kjønigsen.
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