UAE assists evacuation of more than 20,000 refugees as they flee Afghanistan

8,500 foreign nationals have utilised UAE aircrafts and airports in their escape

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The UAE has helped more than 20,000 people who have fled Afghanistan in the wake of the Taliban regaining control of the country.

Afra Al Hameli, Deputy Director of Strategic Communications at the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, announced on social media that "up to today, the UAE has facilitated the evacuation of 20,522 people from Afghanistan".

She posted that the UAE had facilitated the evacuation of 12,022 people, mainly nationals from the UK, US, France, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Spain and Mexico.

Foreign nationals that have utilised UAE airports or aircrafts since the beginning of August to escape Afghanistan now total 8,500.

Leaders of the G7 advanced economies are expected to pledge unity on whether or not to officially recognise or sanction the Taliban when they meet virtually to discuss Afghanistan on Tuesday, according to two diplomatic sources.