PR93607

GIBRALTAR, Dec. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire＝KYODO JBN/ --

World Trade Center Gibraltar and a small team of partners have now completed a

successful daring covert operation, code named 'Operation Magic Carpet' to

evacuate 92 individuals, including 33 children and new-born babies from

escalating and imminent danger in Kabul, Afghanistan.

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Among the evacuees are 60 former staff members and their dependents of the

international arm of the animal welfare charity "Mayhew London" (for which

Megan Markle is a Patron) former NATO and MoD liaisons and a team of

veterinarians, with their respective families.

The humanitarian operation, the largest privately funded humanitarian

evacuation mission undertaken since the American led withdrawal at the end of

August was conducted by an experienced extraction team in an increasingly

hostile environment, with a rapidly closing window, amidst eye-witness reports

of raids of properties and neighbourhoods in the immediate vicinity to these

individuals.

Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, on 15th August, the entire world

watched as the frenzied non-combatant evacuation operation ensued from Hamid

Karzai International Airport. It was clear that despite the heroic efforts of

Allied forces resulting in nearly 120,000 people being evacuated within this

timescale, many vulnerable individuals were left behind at risk of acts of

retribution by uncontrolled terror groups.

British based animal welfare campaigner Dominic Dyer, internationally

recognised for his work in evacuating Pen Farthing and his Nowzad employees and

animals from Kabul in August played a leading role in the rescue operation

working alongside a British vet and a Jerusalem based translator.

Businessman and owner of World Trade Center Gibraltar, Gregory Butcher, also

generously helped finance part of the operation along with several individuals

from Britain and the United States.

The complex and dangerous evacuation took over 2 months to complete, during a

period which has seen Afghanistan spiral into escalating violence and economic

collapse. The growing threat of widespread famine, made all the more desperate

by the approach of winter, puts the survival of millions of Afghan citizens at

risk according to UN reports.

As of 8th December, all 92 evacuees have safely arrived in accommodation in

Islamabad, Pakistan. The sense of relief, sadness and uncertainty will no doubt

be overwhelming for this group, as they now embark on a new life outside of

their home country, having left everything but a few belongings behind.

Speaking about the successful completion of Operation Magic Carpet, Dominic

Dyer said:

"It has been immensely tough for all concerned, but these are the lucky ones,

people for whom there is, at least, the chance of a better future. The rout of

US, UK, and other forces from Kabul, leaving almost the entire country in the

hands of the Taliban, means the prospect for millions is bleak indeed.

Operation Magic Carpet could not help everyone, but this extraordinary band of

committed individuals have done what they can for the Kabul 92. Every life is

precious, and I will now be asking Britain and other nations to open their

doors to these talented individuals who are looking for a safe place to call

home."

Whilst the initial phase is complete, the time to redouble efforts begins now,

and a public fundraising campaign will soon be established to help to provide

food and accommodation to the 92 adults and children in Pakistan for the

necessary timeframe in which onward travel documentation to third countries,

such as the UK, USA and other European destinations and also their respective

accommodation in those countries, is secured.

Gregory Butcher, owner of the World Trade Center Gibraltar and part-funder of

the rescue said:

"Operation Magic Carpet is a miraculous coming together of volunteers in a time

of need. Almost everyone will have seen the harrowing photos of the

humanitarian disaster that is increasing in its intensity, with uncontrolled

terror groups conducting retribution killings more frequently by the day.

I learnt of an Afghan Colonel who had worked with Coalition Forces, including

Canadian, British and US representatives, having attended a NATO conference in

Brussels and an Afghan team leader of a major British sub-contractor security

firm, based in Kabul. They were all at risk of retribution at the hands of the

Taliban and needed to be rescued as well.

At World Trade Center Gibraltar, we believe that large corporations have a

specific role to play in society, one of humanitarian action, sustainable

development, and corporate social responsibility. These principles and values

guide us in our daily lives and throughout all our business endeavours.  We are

partners and friends and seek to support marginalized communities, non-profits

and charitable groups that align with our mission.

When we learned of the developing crisis in Afghanistan and heard that others

were trying to find a way to get those individuals out, some of whom were

female and therefore at considerable risk in Kabul, we could not turn away the

chance of helping. They and their children were desperate to leave and were

without any hope of doing so, so we teamed up with those other kind people to

try and get a total of 92 people out of Afghanistan.

I am so glad we worked tirelessly to achieve this. It really is a life and

death situation, with the international community now calling on the Taliban to

enforce an amnesty for former Afghan security personnel. We have just read that

human rights groups cite scores of ex-soldiers have been rounded up and then

executed since mid-August. The retribution has started, and we owe it to those

who supported the Coalition to save them.

On the arrival of the 92 in Pakistan, it's been hard thinking what might have

happened to them had we all not intervened. Their new lives and future are

filled with uncertainty, and now we need to urgently get these brave

now-stateless English-speaking people into a refugee resettlement program. Can

you help us?"

World Trade Center Gibraltar is working to raise funds and offer vital help to

those whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster, as they

commence a new chapter in their lives, please contact us for more information

at eaw@worldtradecenter.gi  

Ed Allison-Wright

eaw@worldtradecenter.gi

+350 200 400 48

SOURCE World Trade Center Gibraltar