Afghan Baby Thrown Over Kabul Airport Fence Resettled in Arizona

I recently spent time with a family whose baby became an international symbol of the chaos and desperation in Afghanistan, after US troops withdrew in August.

A video of the newborn being hoisted over a barbed-wire fence to a US Marine at the airport in Kabul captured the world’s attention.

We now know the baby is fine, and temporarily living in the Phoenix area with her parents. I wanted to give you some behind-the-scenes information, about their full story which aired Arizona’s Family.

"Oh my god. I'd give him a hug.  He literally saved my daughter's life," the baby’s father, Hameed, told me, referring to the Marine who grabbed his baby’s arm on August 19th.

As part of their agreement to sit down for an interview with our crew from Arizona’s Family (3TV & CBS5 in Phoenix), I promised not to share their full names. They still have several family members who are in hiding in Afghanistan, and targeted by the Taliban.

Liya, Sadia, and Hameed are now temporarily in the Phoenix area.

Liya, Sadia, and Hameed are now temporarily in the Phoenix area.

On August 19th, after the Taliban seized control of Kabul, a human rights activist posted a now-famous video of a baby being hoisted up to a Marine over barbed-wire fence into the airport.

The baby, Liya, was just 16 days old.

"When she's older, I'll tell her she's a fighter.  She made it through the worst of times at the beginning of her life," Hameed told us. 

Hameed worked as a linguist and cultural advisor for military officials in Kabul.  He’d been living at the airport in Kabul for the entire month of August, helping with evacuations.

His wife, Sadia, had a difficult delivery. Hameed was unable to leave the airport, so he was unable to comfort his ailing wife, or even meet his newborn.

Sadia and Liya joined this crowd at the airport in Kabul on August 19th, hoping to get through the gate.

Sadia and Liya joined this crowd at the airport in Kabul on August 19th, hoping to get through the gate.

By mid-August, the family was under direct threat from the Taliban, so Sadia gathered enough strength to pack their belongings and head to the airport.

While the Taliban promised peace and cooperation during the evacuations, the reality on the ground was very different.

At a checkpoint, Sadia says Taliban commandos stole all of their IDs, her gold, cash, and their passports.

Hameed says their life-savings taken that day was worth $40,000.

They even took Sadia’s shoes. She showed up at the airport in bare feet, and joined the chaotic crush of people trying to jam through a small opening in the gate at the airport.

Hameed took a photo of his baby (whom he’d just held for the first time) and the Marine he trusted to take her to safety.

Hameed took a photo of his baby (whom he’d just held for the first time) and the Marine he trusted to take her to safety.

“I could see my daughter screaming and crying, and feared she'd be crushed to death," Hameed said.

He reached out to a Marine who was standing on a vehicle, along the barbed-wire fence, and pointed out his baby on the other side.

"He told me he could lift her over the barbed-wire, but said she'd be hurt.   I told him I'll take the chance.  I'd rather her get hurt than die," he said.

The Marine agreed.

Hameed helped stabilize the Marine's legs, which allowed him to lean over far enough to grab Liya by her right arm, and lift her over the barbed-wire.

In the middle of the chaos, Hameed got to meet his newborn for the very first time, face-to-face.

The father-daughter bonding was brief.

Sadia had collapsed on the other side of the fence from exhaustion, and he still had to figure out how to get her through the gate.

Inside the airport, a nurse tore apart her own scrubs, to stitch together this pink onesie for Liya to wear.

Inside the airport, a nurse tore apart her own scrubs, to stitch together this pink onesie for Liya to wear.

As Hameed went back to help with evacuations, he handed Liya to a Marine, not knowing where she'd be taken or when they'd be able to reunite.

"I handed over my baby to a total stranger.  The only thing I trusted is that he was a Marine, and that my daughter would be safe," he said.

Several more hours would pass before Sadia made it through, and the family was fully reunited.

"What was heartbreaking is, I was inside and had somebody to pull my daughter over the wire.  There were thousands of others who didn't have that opportunity," Hameed said.

Days later, once in the United States, they were surprised to see how the video of their daughter over the barbed-wire fence had caught the world’s attention.

"I think it was very captivating to see what was actually happening. It's one thing for politicians to go on TV and say how fine things are.  It's totally something else on the ground, and when you can see it with your own eyes," he said.

The family, shortly after they arrived in the United States.

The family, shortly after they arrived in the United States.

 While the family is relieved to be temporarily staying with friends in the Phoenix area, they have no forms of identification, and both Liya and Sadia are in need of medical care. 

He setup a GoFundMe account, for anyone would like to help them get on their feet.

The web address is: https://www.gofundme.com/f/marine-baby-from-kabul?qid=7d143e501eadd3e95a42b19f9aa99546 .


Sitting down with a television crew, surrounded by lights and cameras, is a strange and uncomfortable experience for most people. My photographer colleagues, Mike Williams and Juan Magana, are easy-going and respectful in any situation, so I was glad to have them along for this experience.

Checking audio and lighting with photojournalists Mike Williams and Juan Magana before the interview.

Checking audio and lighting with photojournalists Mike Williams and Juan Magana before the interview.

My friend and photographer Matt Ehnes took the wonderful photos of the family you see on this blog. The family arrived here with literally nothing, so we were happy to provide them with Liya’s first baby photos in the United States. He captured beautiful, emotional moments of Liya smiling, napping, and interacting with her parents. I especially like the one of her yawning after a meal in her mother’s lap up above. (They probably don’t need the ones of her crying when I held her :)

If you are interested in my travel adventures, check out my travel blog Jared’s Detours.

 

Previous
Previous

Where to See Fall Colors in Arizona: 5 Great Spots

Next
Next

Arizona rainfall 200% above normal (in parts) this summer