Afghans trying to get to Australia are on the verge of giving up trying to run the gauntlet of chaotic and deadly Taliban checkpoints at Kabul’s airport, with at least 19 people now dead from either skirmishes with Afghanistan’s militant rulers or crowd crushes.

While the Morrison government continues to advise Australian citizens, permanent residents and Afghan nationals with a visa to come to Australia and to go to Kabul airport, US and German officials recommend avoiding the area because of the danger.