'That was hell for us': Former Canadian Forces contractor on his flight from Afghanistan, debate over aid
CBC
Earlier this month, he was still stuck in "hell," waiting in Kabul for the chance to leave. The former Canadian Armed Forces contractor was one of thousands who did not make it out of Afghanistan during the chaotic evacuation effort after the Taliban conquered the country.
"It was the scariest days of my life. Every day," said the Afghan man, whom CBC is not identifying in order to protect family members still in Afghanistan.
In the aftermath of the Taliban takeover, he said he, his wife and four children moved as little as possible from their home to avoid attention. A friend helped bring them necessities, he said, while they awaited information to leave. And they hoped that the Taliban wouldn't come knocking.
"That's why I call it hell, because it was like I was in a prison," the contractor told host Chris Hall of CBC's The House in an interview that aired Saturday.
"We were not moving. Everybody was watching our actions."
LISTEN | A former CAF contractor in Afghanistan discusses his trip to safety:
But just days ago, the former contractor, who had helped the Canadian military during this country's mission in Afghanistan, landed in neighbouring Pakistan. And in less than a month, he expects to step off a plane in Canada.
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