This archive report was first published on 19 August 2021.
August 19, 2021, marked a critical day in the ongoing evacuation efforts from Kabul's airport, with the Taliban controlling key checkpoints and blocking main routes to the airport.
As the situation in Afghanistan continues to unfold, the United States has urged the Taliban to ensure safe passage for those attempting to reach the airport.
Meanwhile, Germany has been faulted for a lack of adequate preparation, with two flights arriving at the Frankfurt Airport early Thursday, carrying evacuees from Kabul.
Among the evacuees were 500 people on board two charted planes operated by Lufthansa and Uzbekistan Airways.
The UK has also announced that it will not evacuate unaccompanied children, with Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stating, 'We can't just take a minor on their own.'
Reports have emerged of Taliban guards beating Afghans on their way to the airport, with the guards spread out across the city.
President Ashraf Ghani, who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took over, has landed in the United Arab Emirates, stating that he left the country on the advice of his security team and denying reports that he fled with 'cars full of cash.'
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has blocked the Taliban from accessing its funds.
Despite the challenges, there are hopes that the G20 summit will be held to discuss the humanitarian fallout in Afghanistan.
