Orphans and widows among those still waiting on Australian visas to escape Afghanistan

Mr Cina told the inquiry there had been multiple incidents of women being targeted or harassed by the Taliban such as the daughter of one widow being “forced into a marriage”.

“The people on our list are in hiding. They are at risk because of their association with us with our military and our embassy,” he told the hearing.

“When we say we want to save the most vulnerable this is really it."

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The charity has been trying to desperately evacuate more than 100 orphans, widows and staff from the country, but so far only 17 have been brought to safety.

The Senate inquiry is examining Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan, as well as the chaotic final days that took place ahead of the departure of allied forces from its capital Kabul.

It’s estimated more than 100,000 people have applied for a humanitarian visa to come to Australia since the fall of the capital Kabul in mid-August. 

The latest hearing comes as uncertainty also surrounds the future of hundreds of Afghans already offered temporary visas to come to Australia due to expire at the end of the month. 

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It is not known how many of the 5,337 Afghan nationals granted the subclass 449 visas as of 12 October had left Afghanistan or arrived in Australia.

Jason Scanes is a former Australian army captain who was deployed to Afghanistan and is the founder of Forsaken Fighters, a group working to assist Afghans that served with Australian troops.

Mr Scanes is also a former Labor candidate who currently works in the office of Labor Senator Anthony Chisholm.

He told the inquiry he was in contact with over 180 people facing the scenario of their 449 visas expiring within weeks.

“You have people who have been issued a 449 visa that's not worth the paper that it's written on if we are not doing evacuation operations,” he said.

“They've been left basically abandoned.”

The Australian government has offered assurances that visa holders on the 449 visas won’t be left behind as part of its efforts to support arrivals from Afghanistan. 

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Migration lawyer Carina Ford who is a member of the Law Council of Australia said they had been told special arrangements were being considered for the cohort.

“We have been advised that we should tell clients not to unnecessarily panic because they will be extended,” she said.

“The quicker the information could go out the better.”

But the safety of those concerned about reprisal attacks from the Taliban remains an ever-present concern for advocates working on behalf of those seeking to escape the country.

A female activist was shot last week in what appeared to be the first known death of a women’s rights defender since the Taliban swept to power almost three months ago.

Sarah Dale of the Refugee Case & Advice Service (RACS), which has been working to support Afghans, said the incident demonstrated the danger of the current situation.

“This is certainly no longer a theoretical risk,” she told the hearing.

“This is a risk that we are watching unfold before our very eyes.” 

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The inquiry was also told the situation in Afghanistan is so dire there have been reports of families selling their own children to afford food just four months after the Taliban took over.

Australian Council for International Development director Tim Watkin called for Australia to do more, saying the longer aid takes to arrive, the more Afghans will suffer.

"What we are seeing and hearing in Afghanistan is more assistance is needed and it is needed urgently," he said.

Save the Children Australia deputy CEO Mathew Tinkler said at least $100 million in humanitarian funding was needed and called for the government to prioritise the survival of children in Afghanistan.

"Afghanistan is rapidly evolving into the world's worst humanitarian crisis,” he said.

"Without immediate action from governments like Australia, the situation will become catastrophically worse."

Around 22 million children are at risk and one million will die, the inquiry heard.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously said there would be a minimum of 3,000 humanitarian visas set aside for Afghan refugees describing this figure as a floor not a ceiling.

But several humanitarian organisations have pressed the government to commit to a humanitarian intake of at least 20,000 in line with the United Kingdom, while Canada has said it will accept up to 40,000 refugees.

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke announced last month the government would allow Afghan evacuees in Australia to transition to permanent visas, as part of a $27 million assistant package.

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