Tucson gem show vendor fears for life in Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

[ad_1]

TUCSON (KVOA) – MP Alma Hernandez used Twitter to express her fear after her good friend Abdul fell silent in Kabul when the Taliban took power.

“These are very close personal friends of mine who are innocent and just asking for help. They feel betrayed. They feel like we left them there to die,” said Hernandez.

Although not a US citizen, Abdul frequently visits Tucson for his gemstone business. He even planned to visit Tucson in just a few weeks before his flight was canceled.

“You are currently hiding in a neighbor’s house,” said Hernandez. “Your whole family is in a house next door for protection because the people in the community know they are working with the United States.”

Hernandez says the Taliban have been a constant threat and many families have been forced to make difficult choices.

“The fact that his family has ranked which family members have priority to get out first,” said Hernandez. “Of course the women were the first and I can’t imagine being in a situation where you have to decide whether my brother or sister should be saved.”

The struggle for survival became even more important after Abdul’s brother was recently stabbed by the Taliban.

“Right now, people are literally flying out of airplanes because they want to get off so badly and they can’t,” said Hernandez. “You would rather die like this than in the hands of others.”

While President Joe Biden has sent troops back to facilitate evacuations, many fear that if they are not US citizens they will be left behind.

[ad_2]