Live updates: Civilians and diplomats flee as Taliban close in on Kabul
An Afghan in the UAE is looking for shelter for his family in Kabul as the Taliban reached the outskirts of the capital city.
Ruhallah Mayar, 27, who worked as a translator for the US military from 2013 to 2017, said his parents and seven siblings feared for their lives and he did not have the money to help them leave the country.
Mr Mayar’s application for the US Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans has been approved, allowing him to live in asylum in the States.
“Afghans living abroad are worried about what will happen next in their home country, and who will make it out alive during these dark days,” said Mr Mayar, who has been working as a client relationship officer for a private company in Dubai since 2018.
“Everyone is panicking, including me, to find a way out for their families and to move them to a safe place.
“It's really hard and saddens me that financially I cannot afford to get my whole family out of Afghanistan and get the visa of any neighbouring country. The lucky ones will find a way out and the rest may suffer and somehow take care of themselves.”
Mr Mayar said he dreaded what would happen if and when the Taliban take control of Kabul, where his family lives.
He said he was having sleepless nights and feelings of hopelessness, which reminded him of the 90s when the Taliban were in control.
His 25-year-old sister's plan to study for a master’s degree could become impossible under Taliban rule, he said, as the group did not allow women to leave their homes when it was in power.
“Afghanistan’s new generation studied and worked hard to rebuild the country. We have the world's best only-girls robotics team, athletes and football players playing across the world," he said.
“With the Taliban taking over, women won't be allowed to study after turning 14. They will not be allowed to step out of their houses. There will be no democracy, no human rights, and no humanity at all.
“Recently, my sister called me and asked if I could do anything to save them from the current situation. They are not able to sleep at night and are worried about what will happen.”
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
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Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Brief scores:
Day 2
England: 277 & 19-0
West Indies: 154
Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
Indian Wells Runner-up
Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
Wimbledon Quarter-finals
Cincinnati Runner-up
US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
Basel Champion
Paris Masters Semi-finals
'Champions'
Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
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Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
