Once again, they are begging Norway for help. 12 Afghans, who worked for the Norwegian forces in Mazar-i-Sharif in the period 2006-2014, have written an open letter to the government.
New hope
They have repeatedly asked Norway to evacuate them from Afghanistan, both in the past and not least after that the Taliban took power in mid-August.
As TV 2 has previously reported, they felt let down by the previous government.
– Norway has left us
Norway has now got a new government, which has given the 12 a new hope.
The letter is addressed to Minister of Defense Odd Roger Enoksen (Sp), and begins by congratulating the election winner.
– We are happy that a good and worthy person like you has become a minister in Norway, they write.
The 12 then describe how they have to live in hiding for fear that the Taliban will find them.
– Because we cooperate with you, with the Norwegian forces, we are seen as enemies of the Taliban, it says.
– It is very difficult to endure. Children cannot go to school. We can not go outdoors. We have no guarantee that the Taliban will not behead us.
TV 2 has been in contact with eight of those who have signed the letter, among them “Ahmed”. He worked as a caretaker for the Norwegian forces for four years.
As TV 2 has previously reported, he has been living in hiding with his family since the Taliban took over Mazar-i-Sharif on August 14. He was forced to leave both home and work for fear of being taken by the Islamists.
The nephew has been evacuated to Sweden
He says that Norway promised him evacuation at the end of August, but the next day a bomb exploded at the international airport in Kabul, and all evacuations were stopped.
– Ahmed with Norwegian soldiers in Camp Nidaros in Mazar-i-Sharif. Photo: Private
–
– We have not heard anything from the Norwegian authorities after this.
But a number of countries have resumed the evacuations, which the 12 Afghans emphasize in the letter. Latest in the weekend picked up Sweden out a group of Afghan nationals, among them was the nephew of «Ahmed».
– I am very happy that he and his family are now safe in Sweden. But sometimes I wish I had worked for Sweden or another country. Had I done so, I would not be here now and fear the Taliban. I had been safe, he says to TV 2.
– I do not understand why the Swedes manage this and not Norway, he says, and adds that he hopes that the new government will take action.
The letter to the authorities is concluded as follows:
– We most respectfully ask Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the rest of the government (…) to evacuate us and save our lives as soon as possible (…).
Read the entire letter from the 12 former Norwegian employees here:
None of the 12 can leave their hiding places and meet physically, therefore the letter is not signed by hand.
It is unclear how many other Afghan citizens are in a similar situation.
Does not appear for interview
TV 2 has asked the Prime Minister’s office for a reply to the letter, but they refer to the Ministry of Defense.
Minister of Defense Enoksen can not be interviewed. Instead, he replies in an email the same as the previous defense minister:
“We understand that the situation is demanding for those who remained and who wanted out. However, work is underway on a new application scheme for former local employees in the Armed Forces in Afghanistan. We can not comment on information about individuals or people on lists “, writes Enoksen.
SV: – Fear they may be killed
SV’s immigration policy spokesperson, Grete Wold, demands that the government speed up the evacuation.
– Now we can not spend much time studying different schemes. This applies to people who live in a desperate situation, and this must be treated urgently so that we get them out, says Wold.
– We see that Sweden recently brought out Afghan citizens, which shows that this is entirely possible to do.
She adds that she thinks the open letter is cruel reading.
– These are 12 desperate people who have worked for Norway. Now they are in a life-threatening situation. They fear for their lives day and night. It hurts to read.
– What must the government do now?
– We have an obligation to these 12 because they have made an effort for Norway for a long time. We have a moral and ethical responsibility to bring them to Norway, and it must happen quickly, Wold states.
She fears the consequences if this takes time.
– Then these people can be killed.
– CONCERNED: Grete Wold is immigration policy spokesperson in SV. Photo: Simen Askjer / TV 2
–
–
