The first child born among the Afghan refugees airlifted out of danger following the Taliban’s dramatic seizure of power in the country in 2021 has turned three.

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

Shafiq says his son is happy, doing well and now has a sister.

“Ibrahim is a happy kid. He loves going to the park and playing. And now he has a little sister. Our daughter Mahsa is a year old,” Shafiq said.

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 are very happy with the result,” Shafiq said.

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

He has a Master’s Degree in water resource and environmental engineering from Kabul polytechnic University and he plans to resume his career here in Australia.

“I would like to follow my career here in Australia. But I am continuing to study because the education systems are different,” he 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.

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.

He said his main worry now was family still in Afghanistan.

“We are very worried about our families. My father, mother and brother and sisters are still in Kabul. The situation there is very bad. There are no jobs and no security. We want our families to come here to Australia so they are safe,” Shafiq said.

“And they want to be with their grandson and granddaughter,” he said.

“But we are very happy to be here. We have had good support from the Australians Government and people.

Shafiq said he was also happy about the opportunities Ibrahim and Mahsa 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.

*Names have been changed to protect family members still in Afghanistan