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Afghan journalist who fled Taliban fears for his family's safety

Hundreds of people gather near an evacuation control checkpoint near the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Khwaja Tawfiq Sediqi) Hundreds of people gather near an evacuation control checkpoint near the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Khwaja Tawfiq Sediqi)
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TORONTO -

An Afghan journalist who escaped Taliban-controlled Afghanistan three days ago, but he fears for his family members who remain in the country as evacuation efforts wind down.

The  journalist, who has worked with foreigners and written articles critical of the Taliban, was considered a high-risk person and managed to make it to Paris.

鈥淚鈥檝e gone through a lot of difficult situations to be here today,鈥 he told CTV鈥檚 Your Morning on Friday.

鈥淚鈥檓 currently physically safe, but not mentally,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 thinking about my family and friends who are still trapped in Afghanistan.鈥

He has a pending resettlement application to come to Canada. His parents, two brothers, sister and his nieces and nephews all live together in Kabul, where about 16 members of his family are based.

鈥淚鈥檝e been in contact with my family and they feel so hopeless,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating.鈥

At least 90 people were killed on Thursday after bomb attacks by so-called Islamic State militants at the airport in Kabul. Meanwhile, the United States and its allies are trying to get as many people out of the country ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline.

Canada鈥檚 last evacuation flight left Afghanistan on Thursday.

The journalist is one of an estimated 100,000 people that have been safely evacuated from Kabul since Aug. 14, the day before the Taliban took over the capital. Canada has helped about 3,700 people leave the country, according to the federal government.

Hw has worked with foreigners, including Canadians and Americans, for about six years and was planning to do a master鈥檚 degree in peace, conflict and diplomacy at London Metropolitan University in England this year on a Chevening Scholarship.

He鈥檚 in quarantine now and plans to go to England when the scholarship program notifies him that itis safe to do so.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been extremely difficult,鈥 he said of his situation.

鈥淚鈥檝e been knocking on every door. I鈥檝e been contacting everyone I know, to please evacuate my family, but I鈥檝e had no luck so far.鈥

His main concern right now is for his family in Kabul. The Taliban raid homes and take people away, he said, addingthat people disappearunder their rule.

鈥淚鈥檓 fearful of that for my family,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 really hope they just don鈥檛 knock on my door, that they just don鈥檛 get there.鈥

Correction

This story has been updated to remove the journalist's name.

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