89 Afghan nationals in quarantine after rescue flight lands in Adelaide

The third emergency flight carrying less than 100 Afghan nationals landed in Australia overnight.

Almost a hundred Afghan men, women and children will spend the next 14 days in hotel quarantine after the third evacuation flight touched down in Adelaide overnight.

The emergency flight landed at Adelaide’s airport about 4am, with four buses taking people to the Hotel Grand Chancellor to quarantine.

It’s understood the 89 Afghan nationals were granted humanitarian visas.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall said his government had reached out to the Islamic Society and the Federal Government when it heard about the “deteriorating situation” in Afghanistan.

“The state government has reached out to the Islamic Society to ensure these families and individuals have a strong support network,” he said.

“It’s a very distressing for all involved and we wanted to play our part and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Afghan community and support those people who are desperately trying to get out of there.

“We’re now working with the federal government on the longer term plans to settle these people.”

Mr Marshall thanked SA Health for facilitating culturally appropriate settings, food, clothing and other essentials they need to “feel welcome” in the state.

He said the state volunteered to take in the foreign nationals in addition to its cap of returning Australians.

“It must have been a terrible fright for them with what’s occurred in Afghanistan over the last couple of weeks.”

An Afghan rescue flight carrying 100 refugees arrived in Adelaide on Wednesday morning. They will now enter 14 days’ quarantine at a medi-hotel. Picture: Trudie Glynn-Roe

Australia has committed to resettle 3000 Afghan nationals within its existing humanitarian intake, well below the commitment from the UK and Canada, who have each offered 20,000 places.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly insisted Australia’s intake was a floor, not a ceiling.

“If the overall program has to be expanded, it will be,” Mr Morrison said last week.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews on Wednesday confirmed another 750 people were rescued from Kabul overnight.

Four RAAF flights flew out of Kabul airport, bringing the total number of evacuees rescued by Australia to more than 2450.

“This is in excess of what we thought we'd be able to achieve in such a short space of time,” Ms Andrews said.

Ms Andrews said the Taliban checkpoints were making it “increasingly difficult” for people to gain access to the airport.

The Afghan nationals will spend the next 14 days in quarantine at the Hotel Grand Chanellor in Adelaide. Picture: Trudie Glynn-Roe

It comes as the Taliban urged skilled Afghans to not flee the country as thousands flock to Kabul’s airport to seek refuge.

“We guarantee their security,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

“This country needs their expertise … [the U.S.] should not encourage the Afghan people to flee Afghanistan.”

US President Joe Biden confirmed on Thursday night the nation’s remaining troops in Afghanistan were on track to leave in a week.

The decision means more than 7000 US defence forces, who are currently securing the airport, and their equipment will be removed by next Tuesday.

Originally published as 89 Afghan nationals in quarantine after rescue flight lands in Adelaide