World Trade Center Gibraltar and a small team of partners have now completed a 
successful daring covert operation, code named 'Operation Magic Carpet' to 
evacuate 92 individuals, including 33 children and new-born babies from 
escalating and imminent danger in Kabul, Afghanistan.

 
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Logo - 
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Among the evacuees are 60 former staff members and their dependents of the 
international arm of the animal welfare charity "Mayhew London" (for which 
Megan Markle is a Patron) former NATO and MoD liaisons and a team of 
veterinarians, with their respective families. 

The humanitarian operation, the largest privately funded humanitarian 
evacuation mission undertaken since the American led withdrawal at the end of 
August was conducted by an experienced extraction team in an increasingly 
hostile environment, with a rapidly closing window, amidst eye-witness reports 
of raids of properties and neighbourhoods in the immediate vicinity to these 
individuals.

Following the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, on 15th August, the entire world 
watched as the frenzied non-combatant evacuation operation ensued from Hamid 
Karzai International Airport. It was clear that despite the heroic efforts of 
Allied forces resulting in nearly 120,000 people being evacuated within this 
timescale, many vulnerable individuals were left behind at risk of acts of 
retribution by uncontrolled terror groups. 

British based animal welfare campaigner Dominic Dyer, internationally 
recognised for his work in evacuating Pen Farthing and his Nowzad employees and 
animals from Kabul in August played a leading role in the rescue operation 
working alongside a British vet and a Jerusalem based translator. 

Businessman and owner of World Trade Center Gibraltar, Gregory Butcher, also 
generously helped finance part of the operation along with several individuals 
from Britain and the United States. 

The complex and dangerous evacuation took over 2 months to complete, during a 
period which has seen Afghanistan spiral into escalating violence and economic 
collapse. The growing threat of widespread famine, made all the more desperate 
by the approach of winter, puts the survival of millions of Afghan citizens at 
risk according to UN reports. 

As of 8th December, all 92 evacuees have safely arrived in accommodation in 
Islamabad, Pakistan. The sense of relief, sadness and uncertainty will no doubt 
be overwhelming for this group, as they now embark on a new life outside of 
their home country, having left everything but a few belongings behind.

Speaking about the successful completion of Operation Magic Carpet, Dominic 
Dyer said:

"It has been immensely tough for all concerned, but these are the lucky ones, 
people for whom there is, at least, the chance of a better future. The rout of 
US, UK, and other forces from Kabul, leaving almost the entire country in the 
hands of the Taliban, means the prospect for millions is bleak indeed. 
Operation Magic Carpet could not help everyone, but this extraordinary band of 
committed individuals have done what they can for the Kabul 92. Every life is 
precious, and I will now be asking Britain and other nations to open their 
doors to these talented individuals who are looking for a safe place to call 
home." 

Whilst the initial phase is complete, the time to redouble efforts begins now, 
and a public fundraising campaign will soon be established to help to provide 
food and accommodation to the 92 adults and children in Pakistan for the 
necessary timeframe in which onward travel documentation to third countries, 
such as the UK, USA and other European destinations and also their respective 
accommodation in those countries, is secured.

Gregory Butcher, owner of the World Trade Center Gibraltar and part-funder of 
the rescue said:

"Operation Magic Carpet is a miraculous coming together of volunteers in a time 
of need. Almost everyone will have seen the harrowing photos of the 
humanitarian disaster that is increasing in its intensity, with uncontrolled 
terror groups conducting retribution killings more frequently by the day.

I learnt of an Afghan Colonel who had worked with Coalition Forces, including 
Canadian, British and US representatives, having attended a NATO conference in 
Brussels and an Afghan team leader of a major British sub-contractor security 
firm, based in Kabul. They were all at risk of retribution at the hands of the 
Taliban and needed to be rescued as well.

At World Trade Center Gibraltar, we believe that large corporations have a 
specific role to play in society, one of humanitarian action, sustainable 
development, and corporate social responsibility. These principles and values 
guide us in our daily lives and throughout all our business endeavours.  We are 
partners and friends and seek to support marginalized communities, non-profits 
and charitable groups that align with our mission. 

When we learned of the developing crisis in Afghanistan and heard that others 
were trying to find a way to get those individuals out, some of whom were 
female and therefore at considerable risk in Kabul, we could not turn away the 
chance of helping. They and their children were desperate to leave and were 
without any hope of doing so, so we teamed up with those other kind people to 
try and get a total of 92 people out of Afghanistan.

I am so glad we worked tirelessly to achieve this. It really is a life and 
death situation, with the international community now calling on the Taliban to 
enforce an amnesty for former Afghan security personnel. We have just read that 
human rights groups cite scores of ex-soldiers have been rounded up and then 
executed since mid-August. The retribution has started, and we owe it to those 
who supported the Coalition to save them.

On the arrival of the 92 in Pakistan, it's been hard thinking what might have 
happened to them had we all not intervened. Their new lives and future are 
filled with uncertainty, and now we need to urgently get these brave 
now-stateless English-speaking people into a refugee resettlement program. Can 
you help us?"

World Trade Center Gibraltar is working to raise funds and offer vital help to 
those whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster, as they 
commence a new chapter in their lives, please contact us for more information 
at eaw@worldtradecenter.gi  

Ed Allison-Wright
eaw@worldtradecenter.gi 
+350 200 400 48 

SOURCE World Trade Center Gibraltar