22 Finns evacuated from Afghanistan, 70 wait

A total of 22 Finnish citizens have been evacuated from Afghanistan so far, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, several Finns were able to get through the gates of Kabul Airport and board international evacuation flights to various destinations, said the ministry, adding that the evacuations will continue in the coming hours and days.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs keeps in close contact with the evacuees.

The Ministry will continue evacuation of Finnish citizens, permanent residents of Finland and those who have worked for the Finnish State in close cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces and partner countries.

The Ministry has sent a two-person assistance team to Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. The team reached at Kabul Airport on Tuesday night. The task of the team is to facilitate evacuation arrangements to Finland at the airport.

The diplomatic staff of the Finnish Embassy in Kabul, who were evacuated late on Monday, arrived in Finland on Wednesday.

At the moment, the government has information of almost 70 Finnish citizens or those living in Finland with a residence permit who have requested evacuation assistance from Afghanistan.

Based on the decisions by the government on 13 August and 15 August, Finland will evacuate 170 people. They are current and former employees of the embassy, employees of the EU representation and NATO, and members of their families.