A Williamstown woman who feared for her life while working with the United Nations in Afghanistan has helped a media colleague from Kabul flee the Taliban and gain refuge in Australia.
Jillian Hocking, who worked in a UN compound with other media, sponsored her colleague Abdullah Alikhil to become an Australian resident.
Ms Hocking says she remembers the fear of working in the compound where, at times, her only mission was to stay alive.
She said one night, the compound came under direct threat of being bombed.
“Four suicide bombers were arrested in Kabul and they admitted they had planned a huge attack on our compound with up to 15 suicide bombers and two cars laden with explosives.
“It would have been the biggest attack on a compound in Afghanistan.
“I was thinking of my kids, really, and thought, I need to be alive for them.
“That night, we were told not to go to the bunker … no one was to sleep in the bunker unless we were told, grab your bags, there’s an attack.
“Most of us slept in our rooms. I didn’t sleep in my bed because I was told if they [Taliban] come into your room and feel the bed and it’s warm, they know you’re around.
“I’m quite small and I worked out I could fit inside my suitcase which was on top of the cupboard. I could climb in and do it up, and that was my hiding spot if there was an attack.”
Mr Alikhil said he was under daily threat because of his reporting on civilian casualties and human rights abuses.
“UN were seen the same as international forces because we were giving mandates to the International Security Assistance Force and also we were closely working with the government.
“I got direct calls from the anti-government elements when I was reporting on civilian casualties because usually they were responsible for more than 70 or 75 per cent [of casualties], but they were claiming, ‘no we’re not and you are giving a false figure’.
“On a daily basis, I thought I might be kidnapped, I might be shot.”
Jillian Hocking works for the Afghan Australian Development Organisation.
For information visit www.aado.org.au
