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Former Marine Paul Farthing’s far-reaching campaign to evacuate the animals at his shelter has caused controversy, with thousands seeking to leave Afghanistan before US troops withdraw later this month.
After serving in Afghanistan, Farthing, a former member of the British Army, established a Nowzad shelter in Kabul to rescue cats, dogs and donkeys.
The man remains in Kabul and, through a crowdfunding campaign, raised funds for a charter flight that could leave Afghanistan and its relatives and some 200 dogs and cats in Afghanistan. He calls this campaign “Operation of the Arch.”
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace previously said it would be wrong to “prioritize animals over humans”, with thousands of Afghans waiting to leave and fearing retaliation from the Taliban, who took power earlier this month. .
However, early Wednesday morning, Wallace announced on Twitter that he had allowed officials to process Afghan Farthing staff and meet them at the Kabul airport.
When that happens and “if he comes with his animals, we will find his place on the plane,” said the British Defense Secretary.
He stressed that the “limiting factor” was evacuation flow management, not “aircraft capacity”.
Wallace also said that Farthing and his Afghan staff with a UK visa could leave the Royal Air Force plane, but in that case the animals should remain in Afghanistan.
The defense secretary told Sky News on Tuesday that the ordered Farthing plane would “block the airfield” and “remain empty” as officers worked with other passengers waiting in a huge queue.
“As for the animals that he (P. Farthing) saved, it will not be the case that he prioritizes them over the men, women and children we see desperately waiting at the door,” Wallace said yesterday.
Farthing ran a campaign to complain about the UK Department of Defense’s position, which was endorsed by celebrities, including comedian Ricky Gervais.
British tabloids have traditionally supported campaigns to help animals abroad, and The Sun wrote on Wednesday that Wallace had given a “beacon of hope” to the “flight of mercy.”
Farthing has said that a 250-seat plane he ordered would allow rescued animals to fly back and that Afghans could fill the vacancies.
The UK has already evacuated more than 10,000 people from Afghanistan since August 13. people, with more military flights scheduled for Wednesday, the Defense Department said.
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