Australia begins evacuations in Afghanistan
Hundreds of troops are deployed on an urgent mission to evacuate Australian citizens from Afghanistan.
The first Australian evacuation flight picks up 26 Australian citizens and visa holders at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
The flight, carrying Australian citizens and Afghan nationals with visas as well as one foreign official with an international agency, landed in Australia's base in the Emirates on Wednesday morning, according to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Morrison said the situation on the ground in Kabul was evolving rapidly.
“As in any crisis situation, the Australian government’s priority is to ensure the safety of its citizens,” he said.
“We have over 130 Australians in Afghanistan, working in the UN, NGOs, and elsewhere, and we are working to bring them and their families home", adding that evacuation efforts are being closely co-ordinated with international partners.
