Afghans Employed By U.S. Embassy Say They’re ‘Losing Faith’ In Evacuation: It’s ‘Better To Die Under The Taliban’s Bullet’ Than Risk Kabul Airport

Afghan employees of the United States Embassy in Kabul have reportedly said that they are “losing faith” that they will be evacuated and say they would rather die “under the Taliban’s bullet” than risk the crush of fleeing people at the Kabul airport — a crush that has led to more than a dozen deaths in recent days as evacuations ramp up.

“Local staff members at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul are ‘deeply disheartened’ by U.S. evacuation efforts and have expressed a sense of betrayal and distrust in the U.S. government, according to a State Department diplomatic cable,” NBC News reported Sunday. “The cable, which was sent Saturday, said memos were sent Wednesday inviting Afghan staff members at the embassy to head to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. It told them to take food and to prepare for difficult conditions.”