Afghan woman gives birth aboard US evacuation plane

An Afghan woman gave birth to a baby girl just after landing at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. after flying in a US Army Evacuation Plane.

The United States Air Mobility Command has reported that the woman went into labor aboard the C-17 transport plane during the second leg of her escape trip from Afghanistan after the takeover of the country by the Taliban, according to the Ministry of Defense published on its social networks.

Due to the flying conditions and the over 8,500 meters altitude the aircraft was at, the mother suffered complications from the lower air pressure in the aircraft.

“The aircraft commander decided to descend to altitude to increase the air pressure in the aircraft, which stabilized and saved the mother’s life.”, explained the Air Mobility Command, according to the channel CNN.

Once the plane has landed, Medical personnel from the 86th Air Force Medical Group assisted in the delivery of the baby. Finally, the mother and the newborn were transferred to a nearby medical center in good condition.

DESPERATE IN KABUL

Desperation increased on Saturday around Kabul airport, amid the chaos surrounding the evacuation efforts in Afghanistan, which US President Joe Biden has called “one of the most difficult in history”

Six days after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, the flow of people trying to flee its Islamist regime has overwhelmed the international community.

The roads leading to the airport were congested with traffic, pedestrians and checkpoints, while Families wait for a miracle to cross the environment protected by barbed wire.

The video of an American soldier lifting a baby over a wall at Kabul airport was the latest portrait of the despair experienced by thousands of Afghans, after the terrifying images of people hanging from planes taking off.

“Please, please help me, where am I going?” What should I do?” wrote a man who said he worked years ago at the US Embassy in a WhatsApp group where people share information on how to leave.

“I tried to go to the airport for days but couldn’t. Save me, please “ added.

Thousands of American soldiers try to order the arrival of Afghans and foreigners on planes, But President Biden admitted that the presence of soldiers does not guarantee safe passage.

“It is one of the biggest and most difficult airlifts in history”, Biden said in a televised message. “I can’t promise what the outcome will be.”

REASONS FOR FEAR

The Taliban have promised to be “positively different” from their previous government, between 1996 and 2001, known for their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. Fear is the main driving force of those who are desperately displaced in the country today.

In this time, women were excluded from public life, girls could not go to school and there was stoning for adultery.

Also promised not to take revenge on their opponents and to offer a general amnesty for those who have worked with the government backed by Washington.

But an intelligence document for the UN noted that activists went door to door looking for people who had worked with the Americans or NATO.

According to the confidential UN document, which AFP had access, activists are also checking people going to Kabul airport.

German public network Deutsche Welle reported that the Taliban killed the relative of one of its journalists while searching for the media’s publisher.

(With AFP and Europa Press information)

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