The first baby born among the cohort of Afghan refugees who were airlifted out of Kabul and resettled in Australia following the return to power of the Taliban in 2021 has become an Australian citizen.

Ibrahim, now almost 5, and his family, recently became citizens at a ceremony in Springvale.

His father Shafiq said it was a privilege for his family to become Australian citizens.

“We are very happy to become citizens of Australia. This country has given us new lives, and we want to show our gratitude,” Shafiq said.

He said the citizenship ceremony was life affirming.

“It was a great experience. We now feel like Aussies,” he said.

Shafiq said he was also happy about the opportunities Ibrahim and his sister Mahsa, 2, would have in Australia.

“My son and daughter will be able to have a good education and follow their dreams while also contributing to Australian society,” he said.

Ibrahim was born just a week after his parents’ arrival in Australia.

“Life is good for us in Australia. We are safe and healthy and doing well. Everything is OK,” Shafiq said.

Shafiq is working as a travel agent but hopes to resume his career in water engineering.

“I am working towards getting an engineering job but in the meantime, we are doing OK,” he said.

Ibrahim was born prematurely but safely in Melbourne’s Royal Women’s Hospital in September 2021 after his parents Shafiq and Amira made a short 2am dash to the hospital from their temporary accommodation in the inner city.

Shafiq recalled the drama of Ibrahim’s birth.

“It was 2am and we went to the hospital in a taxi. Ibrahim was premature but everything was OK. The Royal Women’s Hospital staff looked after us. We were very happy with the result,” Shafiq said.

Shafiq and Amira were among more than 120,000 people evacuated by military aircraft from Kabul International Airport between August 13 and 30 2021. Led by the US, the operation also included the air forces of the UK, Australia, Germany, Canada, Korea, India and a host of European nations.

The couple spent a night at the Australian camp at the airport in Kabul before being flown to Dubai, where they spent a week. After two weeks of hotel quarantine in Brisbane, they arrived in Melbourne on September 13.

“We heard that there was a strong Afghan community he Melbourne, so we decided to come here,” Shafiq said.

Shafiq said getting out of Afghanistan was a frightening ordeal.

“It was very scary getting out of Kabul. My wife, who was eight months into her pregnancy fell into a drain outside the airport as were trying to get in,” he said.

“I worked on contracts for the Australian Government. I was a site engineer with a logistical company that worked on projects for the embassy – doing work on septic tanks and repairing sewage infrastructure.

“Because of this we were in danger, and we were worried that if we stayed the Taliban would come for us.

“I had applied for a visa and when it came by email there was also a notification to come to the airport.

“We were told to go to the A/B gate. But it was very difficult. There were thousands of people trying to get in. It was very difficult for my wife; she fell into drain water. I was very worried about her.

“But we were actually lucky because it only took us six or seven hours to get in – for most people it was two, three or four days. We were also lucky because the Australian soldiers helped us and checked everything,” Shafiq said.

“We heard that there was a strong Afghan community he Melbourne, so we decided to come here,” he said.