A Vero Beach, Florida, man is frantically trying to get his family out of Afghanistan, believing their work with Americans has put them in danger.Safi Saleh was born and raised in Afghanistan and moved to the United States in 1982.But he still has many family members in his original homeland who are now hoping to get out.“I couldn’t go to sleep. I get up in the night,” Saleh said. “I was like, ‘Gosh, what should I do?’ I need to do something, you know?”Saleh said he’s most concerned about his nephew, Hanif Ayoube.Ayoube lives in Afghanistan with his wife and children.“Everything is shut down,” Saleh said. “He’s locked in his rental place. He said they can’t go anywhere.”Ayoube is a carpenter, and Saleh said he worked on many projects for the U.S. and coalition forces.Ayoube believes now that the U.S. is gone, those who worked with Americans have targets on their backs, hunted by the Taliban.“They don’t have mercy,” Saleh said of the Taliban. “And if I said they are thirsty for our blood, believe me some of them are like that.”Saleh would know.After 9/11, he worked for the U.S. Department of Defense as a translator in Afghanistan for 10 years, dealing directly with the Taliban.Saleh said his nephew wanted to leave Afghanistan with his family during the U.S. evacuation, but they didn’t have the proper paperwork.He’s asked Saleh to help him get that paperwork so his family can go someplace safe.Saleh said he’s called members of Congress and he’s filled out forms for the State Department.So far, he’s had no luck finding help.“My hands are tied. I’m just trying to do anything,” Saleh said. “If I can save one or two of my family, that would be the best achievement.”
A Vero Beach, Florida, man is frantically trying to get his family out of Afghanistan, believing their work with Americans has put them in danger.
Safi Saleh was born and raised in Afghanistan and moved to the United States in 1982.
But he still has many family members in his original homeland who are now hoping to get out.
“I couldn’t go to sleep. I get up in the night,” Saleh said. “I was like, ‘Gosh, what should I do?’ I need to do something, you know?”
Saleh said he’s most concerned about his nephew, Hanif Ayoube.
Ayoube lives in Afghanistan with his wife and children.
“Everything is shut down,” Saleh said. “He’s locked in his rental place. He said they can’t go anywhere.”
Ayoube is a carpenter, and Saleh said he worked on many projects for the U.S. and coalition forces.
Ayoube believes now that the U.S. is gone, those who worked with Americans have targets on their backs, hunted by the Taliban.
“They don’t have mercy,” Saleh said of the Taliban. “And if I said they are thirsty for our blood, believe me some of them are like that.”
Saleh would know.
After 9/11, he worked for the U.S. Department of Defense as a translator in Afghanistan for 10 years, dealing directly with the Taliban.
Saleh said his nephew wanted to leave Afghanistan with his family during the U.S. evacuation, but they didn’t have the proper paperwork.
He’s asked Saleh to help him get that paperwork so his family can go someplace safe.
Saleh said he’s called members of Congress and he’s filled out forms for the State Department.
So far, he’s had no luck finding help.
“My hands are tied. I’m just trying to do anything,” Saleh said. “If I can save one or two of my family, that would be the best achievement.”
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