[ad_1]
An 11-year-old Afghan boy who spent a 12 months stranded alone in France following the Kabul airport bombing is “drained however comfortable” after travelling to the UK to be reunited along with his twin brother.
Obaidullah Jabarkhyl was caught “sad and scared” in Strasbourg for months after getting separated from his mother and father and siblings throughout the Afghanistan evacuation amid the Taliban takeover final August.
His twin, Irfanullah, made it safely to London to stick with their UK-based household whereas his mother and father and sister remained of their residence nation.
On Wednesday, his wait lastly got here to an finish and he was tearfully greeted by kinfolk together with his twin at St Pancras station following the approval of his visa software.
Obaidullah’s cousin Qamar Jabarkhyl, who’s caring for the 11-year-old whereas he lives within the UK, has welcomed the event, however criticised delays that left him lower off from Irfanullah for therefore lengthy.
Obaidullah’s household together with cousin Qamar (second left) and twin Irfanullah (second proper) greeted him with presents as he stepped off the prepare at St Pancras
He mentioned it was solely after the household’s case was extensively reported, following their constituency MP Bob Blackman elevating it within the Home of Commons, that motion was taken.
Mr Jabarkhyl, a 28-year-old British citizen and engineer, mentioned: “As quickly because the information went viral the Residence Workplace managed to make a contact on Monday after the weekend completed very first thing within the morning.
“They promised again in March or February to take swift motion they usually didn’t. We’re nonetheless grateful for the way in which they helped however I feel they need to assist others as a result of there are various different Afghans in the identical state of affairs, little children dwelling away from residence.”
Talking after his arrival within the UK, the 11-year-old mentioned he was “very comfortable” to be along with his brother once more and searching ahead to going to high school and making new mates.
The pair hugged as Obaidullah stepped off onto the station platform on Wednesday earlier than spending their first afternoon again collectively watching Afghanistan face off in opposition to Pakistan within the Asia Cup cricket event.
After an extended prepare journey from Paris Gare du Nord, he was welcomed with presents, flowers and chocolate by his kinfolk forward of a household celebration later within the night.
“I’m drained however comfortable,” Obaidullah mentioned.
Obaidullah and his cousin Qamar, who fought to get his visa authorized to take care of him within the UK
“I’m most wanting ahead to studying English at college and assembly new mates right here.”
Mr Jabarkhyl mentioned Obaidullah was able to “put all of it behind him” and construct a brand new life within the UK.
“When he arrived on the prepare Irfanullah cried for him, it was very emotional,” he mentioned.
“He says he nonetheless doesn’t imagine he’s arrived within the UK. He’s so excited to be right here and he desires to place all of it behind him now.
“When he left Afghanistan he advised me he didn’t really feel any happiness for escaping the Taliban regime as a result of he’d left his household behind.
“Coming right here was the primary time he realised. He was upset that his mother and father are left behind and he might by no means see them once more.”
However Mr Jabarkhyl mentioned Irfanullah, Obaidullah’s twin, was relieved to have somebody who had shared his experiences of uncertainty and will perceive the way it felt.
“As a result of Irfanullah doesn’t have any of his quick household right here, now he has somebody he can share his emotions with. Now he has somebody that he has that reference to.
“He appears to very comfortable about that,” he mentioned.
Obaidulla (third left) and Irfanullah (second proper) had been surrounded by kinfolk on the reunion on Wednesday
In July, the household advised how they felt their ordeal had fallen on “deaf ears,” having waited months to listen to concerning the standing of Obaidullah’s visa software.
He was compelled to rejoice his eleventh birthday alone hundreds of miles away from his family members for the primary time.
“It was actually arduous. I requested the man he lives with to purchase him a birthday cake however he mentioned he was crying all day lengthy. He didn’t even need to lower his personal cake,” Mr Jabarkhyl mentioned on the time.
“It simply melts your coronary heart when an 11-year-old boy is asking 20 instances a day simply to say ‘hey’ and ‘hello’.”
The household’s lawyer, Nick O’Loughnan – of Wilson Solicitors, welcomed the “humane” intervention by the Residence Workplace, however warned that delays to household reunion purposes had been turning into commonplace.
“I’m so comfortable and relieved that the Residence Workplace has acted humanely in allowing Obaidullah to be reunited along with his twin brother and different relations within the UK,” he mentioned.
“I want to thank Bob Blackman MP for elevating Obaidullah’s case in Parliament and reward Obaidullah’s cousin, Qamar for his tenacity in corresponding with totally different authorities to make sure Obaidullah’s journey preparations could possibly be made.
“Residence Workplace steerage states that selections in household reunion purposes needs to be made inside 12 weeks; nevertheless, we’re routinely seeing these purposes take as much as a 12 months, typically with no motive in any respect being supplied as justification.
“The lengthy delays we’re seeing might be extraordinarily damaging to the psychological well being of candidates, notably to those that are weak and are left stranded with out their relations. I hope that the Residence Workplace will acknowledge this and take steps to make sure that their service requirements are upheld.”
Obaidullah is eager to start out college and make new mates after arriving safely within the UK
Mr Blackman, the constituency MP for Mr Jabarkhyl, mentioned he was “delighted” that after many months Obaidullah had the prospect to start out a “comfortable, affluent, protected life” within the UK.
“My thanks goes to my employees, the Residence Workplace, the native authorities and the numerous companies which have labored tirelessly to get us to this second,” he mentioned.
“The scenes the world witnessed in Afghanistan shocked us all. I pay tribute to the servicemen and girls, volunteers and organisations who assisted in evacuating hundreds of individuals from Afghanistan and thank these nonetheless offering ongoing assist.
“It’s tribute to the unimaginable work of individuals coming collectively to assist others. As one journey ends, one other begins, and hope that Obaidullah can now construct a cheerful, affluent, protected life right here within the UK, surrounded by family members.”
A Residence Workplace spokesperson mentioned: “Obaidullah (Jabarkhyl) has arrived safely within the UK and reunited along with his household.
“We have now labored carefully with the native authority and social companies all through, who will proceed to assist Obaidullah and his household.
“Throughout Operation Pitting, we evacuated 15,000 individuals from Kabul and we proceed to do all we are able to to safe protected passage and allow British nationals and eligible Afghans to depart the nation.”
[ad_2]
Source link
