Afghan security guards from Finnish embassy evacuated from Kabul

With support from US troops on the ground, Finland has successfully evacuated the security guards who served at its embassy in Kabul, along with their families.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs reported on Saturday in a statement that "Finland’s relief efforts in Afghanistan were complemented late on the night of Friday 27 August," when the employees of the company Tahiri Protection Risk Management Consulting, responsible for the security of Finnish Embassy personnel were successfully led inside the gates of Kabul Airport.

The total number of these employees and their family members is 83 persons.

"Assisted by US troops, the group managed to get on a flight away from Kabul early this morning," the Ministry said.

"The keys to success were close diplomatic contacts and collaboration between the United States and Finland, based on networks created by Finland during the evacuation effort," the Ministry added.

These people are included in the group of 128 on whose evacuation the Finnish Government made a decision at an extraordinary meeting on 24 August.

The total number of evacuees to Finland is now 413.

4-year residence permit

Finland’s relief efforts in Afghanistan ended when the Foreign Ministry's relief team and the Defence Forces’ unit tasked with safeguarding the efforts had left Kabul.

The Foreign Ministry’s relief team arrived in Finland on the night of Friday 27 August, and the Defence Forces announced that their unit has returned home this morning (28 August).

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will continue to provide assistance to Finnish citizens and permanent residents of Finland in Afghanistan to the extent possible.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the evacuees will receive a residence permit for humanitarian reasons valid for 4 years.